More than 100 drones were detected near Romania over the past 96 hours, with NATO fighter jets scrambled seven times in response to the increased aerial activity, Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruță said, according to Antena 3 CNN.

The figures come as Romania faces a growing number of drone incidents linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Romanian forces have recently shifted from monitoring and escorting drones to actively destroying those that enter Romanian airspace, while NATO aircraft are increasingly being called on to respond to aerial threats along the alliance’s eastern flank.

NATO aircraft repeatedly activated

According to Miruță, Romanian authorities detected more than 100 drones in the vicinity of Romanian territory during the four-day period. NATO fighter jets participating in air-policing missions were activated seven times.

Miruță did not report how many of the detected drones entered Romanian airspace, nor how many were identified as Russian or Ukrainian.

Miruță said most of the drones were destroyed by Ukrainian air defenses outside Romania, but close enough for their debris to reach Romanian shores.

“[Russia’s war in Ukraine] is a real war, with real consequences. That is why we are taking every measure we can to limit the indirect consequences that are also being felt here,” Miruță wrote on Facebook.

The report comes shortly after Romania destroyed two Russian Gerbera-type drones that were found drifting in the Black Sea near the Neptun Deep offshore gas project on 11 August. Romanian military divers carried out controlled detonations after Ukraine confirmed the drones were not Ukrainian.

Romania has begun shooting down drones

The latest figures follow a significant change in Romania’s response to drone incursions.

In late July, Romanian F-16s shot down three drones over Romanian territory and territorial waters in three consecutive days. One of the drones was identified as a Russian Shahed-type attack drone, while investigations were conducted into the others.

The July incidents marked a shift from Romania’s previous approach of tracking or escorting drones that crossed into its airspace during Russian attacks on Ukraine. Four of the five drones shot down in EU and NATO countries at that point had been neutralized by Romanian military pilots, according to Miruță.

Romanian President Nicușor Dan called the repeated violations of Romanian airspace “inadmissible and intolerable” and Bucharest prepared a diplomatic protest to Moscow after one of the downed drones was identified as Russian.

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Drone war reaches beyond Ukraine

Romania has repeatedly dealt with drones crossing its border during Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory, particularly in the vicinity of Ukrainian ports on the Danube and the Black Sea.

In June, a Ukrainian sea drone that had lost control, which Kyiv attributed to Russian electronic warfare, exploded near an oil terminal in the Romanian port of Constanța. No one was injured, but more than 1,000 people were evacuated from the area as a precaution.

The incidents have also extended beyond Romania. On 14 August, NATO fighter jets shot down a foreign drone after it entered Latvian airspace. Latvia said the drone had entered its airspace as a result of Russian electronic warfare activity.

The repeated incidents have made drone activity around NATO’s eastern border an increasingly regular consequence of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) plans to abolish special border zones along several boundaries with Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, according to draft orders reviewed by the Russian outlet Agentstvo.

The proposed changes would remove restrictions that currently treat movement between Russia and occupied parts of Ukraine much like crossing an international border. The FSB says the move follows Russia’s claimed incorporation of the occupied Ukrainian territories into Russia.

FSB seeks to remove border zones

The draft orders, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda, would invalidate previous FSB orders establishing border zones along the boundaries between Russia’s Rostov and Voronezh oblasts and the occupied territories of Ukraine.

A similar change is planned for occupied Crimea, where the current border zone along the boundary with occupied Kherson Oblast would be abolished.

The existing rules effectively impose additional controls on people entering and leaving the occupied territories, making movement subject to procedures similar to those used at Russia’s state border.

In the draft orders, the FSB justifies the changes by referring to the alleged “admission into the Russian Federation” of the occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson oblasts.

Russia illegally claimed to annex those territories, along with Zaporizhzhia Oblast, in September 2022. The move has been rejected by Ukraine and the international community, and Russia does not control all of the territory it claims to have annexed.

Border zone would remain around Crimea's islands

The FSB proposal would not completely eliminate the border zone in occupied Crimea.

A restricted zone would remain “within the boundaries of the Black Sea islands belonging to the Russian Federation,” according to the draft. The FSB’s regional directorate would determine where and when people could enter the zone and would install warning signs.

The proposed changes would remove the existing border zones along Russia’s boundaries with occupied Ukrainian territories, while retaining a border zone around certain Black Sea islands in occupied Crimea.

Russia treats occupied territory as part of its territory

The planned changes reflect Moscow’s effort to incorporate occupied Ukrainian territories into Russia’s administrative and legal system.

In September 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed so-called “accession treaties” claiming to incorporate Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts into Russia. Russia’s parliament subsequently approved the claims.

The treaties purported to define the boundaries of the annexed territories according to the borders they had on the day Russia claimed to admit them into the Russian Federation, despite Russia not controlling the entirety of those regions.

Russia previously used similar measures to formalize its control over occupied Crimea after illegally annexing the peninsula in 2014.

A Ukrainian court has sentenced a Russian soldier to 12 years in prison for repeatedly raping a 57-year-old civilian woman for about two months in an occupied village in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office said on 14 August.

Ukrainian authorities and international monitors have documented hundreds of cases of conflict-related sexual violence by Russian forces in Ukraine, while warning that the true number is likely higher because many cases go unreported, particularly in occupied territories.

Woman was trapped with Russian soldiers

The 50-year-old Russian serviceman entered a village in the Pokrovsk district in September 2025 as part of a small infantry group, according to prosecutors. He and two other Russian soldiers occupied the basement of a private home where two local civilians were sheltering from Russian attacks.

During one of the attacks, the civilian man was killed. The woman was then left in the basement with the three armed Russian soldiers.

In early October, one of the soldiers began sexually assaulting her. The court found that the abuse became systematic and continued for about two months.

The soldier threatened to kill the woman if she refused. Two other Russian servicemen were present during this period, while the woman was effectively unable to leave the basement or protect herself.

The abuse ended in December, when Ukrainian forces captured the Russian soldier during fighting. The woman was freed.

Convicted Russian soldier had spent 32 years in prison

The convicted man is a resident of Russia’s Sverdlovsk Oblast who had spent a total of 32 years in prison for robbery and armed robbery before joining the Russian military.

He signed a contract with the Russian army while serving his sentence and was later deployed as a rifleman with the 114th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade of Russia’s 51st Combined Arms Army.

The defendant denied committing the crime in court. Prosecutors presented evidence that the court found sufficient to establish his guilt in the cruel treatment of a civilian.

He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, the maximum punishment under the provision of Ukraine’s Criminal Code used in the case.

Sexual violence as a weapon of Russia’s war

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office had recorded 401 cases of sexual violence against civilians allegedly committed by Russian military personnel since the start of the full-scale invasion as of June 2026.

The victims included 250 women and 151 men, including 23 girls and one boy.

Donetsk Oblast had the second-highest number of documented cases, with 92, behind Kherson Oblast’s 124. Ukrainian prosecutors had sent 64 indictments involving 81 people to court, while Ukrainian courts had issued 19 verdicts against 26 individuals. All those convicted received prison sentences.

The documented figures do not capture the full scale of the abuse. The Prosecutor General’s Office has noted that the actual number may be higher because these are cases victims have been able to report.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian special services are conducting targeted operations against collaborators in Russian-occupied territories who assist Russia’s attacks against Ukraine and Ukrainians.

Speaking after a meeting of Ukraine’s top military leadership on 14 August, Zelenskyy said he received a separate briefing from Ukraine’s special services on the progress of these operations.

He specifically mentioned occupied Sevastopol, where Ukrainian officials have previously accused local collaborators of supporting Russia’s military operations.

“Responsibility for collaborators is inevitable,” Zelenskyy said.

Operations target those helping Russia

Zelenskyy did not identify the individuals targeted or provide operational details, saying only that the special services had reported on the implementation of “targeted operations” against collaborators in occupied territories.

He said the targets include people who participate in Russian attacks against Ukraine and Ukrainians.

The comments signal that Ukraine is continuing to pursue individuals in occupied territory who assist Russian forces, including through intelligence, military support, or other forms of cooperation.

Sevastopol explosion on 13 August

The statement comes shortly after an explosion in occupied Sevastopol on 13 August killed a Russian military officer.

Russian and Ukrainian sources have circulated claims that the victim was Robert Shageyev, reportedly a former Ukrainian Navy officer who joined Russia after the occupation of Crimea and later served in Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. 

His identity and the circumstances of the explosion have not been officially confirmed by Ukrainian authorities.

Russian sources had suggested Ukrainian involvement in the incident, but Ukraine has not publicly claimed responsibility.

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Ukraine prepares for Russia’s next moves

The discussion of operations against collaborators was part of a broader meeting focused on Ukraine’s military preparations for the coming months.

Zelenskyy said the main issue was securing funding for Ukraine’s defense and security forces through the fall and winter. Officials identified funding gaps and additional requirements for expanding production of advanced weapons.

Among the priorities are faster production of Ukrainian strike weapons and new defensive systems, including jet-powered interceptor drones designed to counter Russian aerial threats.

Ukrainian intelligence also provided updated information about Russia’s plans, according to Zelenskyy. He said Ukraine is preparing countermeasures, including asymmetric responses.

The meeting also covered the effectiveness of Ukraine’s long-range and medium-range sanctions against Russia. Zelenskyy said the existing sanctions plan is being implemented and that priorities are being adjusted to ensure Ukraine has the capabilities needed to achieve its objectives.

Ukraine’s 425th Separate Assault Regiment Skelia is moving under the operational command of the 1st National Guard Corps Azov, as the Ukrainian military works to consolidate scattered Skelia units under a single command and eventually deploy them on the same section of the front.

The move comes amid scrutiny of Skelia following an investigation into dozens of non-combat deaths among its recruits and ongoing criminal proceedings over alleged abuse. It also forms part of broader reforms being carried out by newly appointed Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, who made the decision to place Skelia under Azov’s operational command, according to the regiment.

Oleksii Bratushchak, head of communications for the Skelia regiment, announced the change on 13 August on the YouTube channel “Butusov Plus”. He stressed that Skelia is not becoming part of Azov’s organizational structure. The arrangement concerns operational command, meaning Azov will direct the regiment’s combat employment.

Skelia’s scattered units are being brought together

Bratushchak said Skelia is currently carrying out combat orders under Azov Corps command, although not all of its units have yet been transferred.

The regiment’s units have been spread across several areas and operating under different higher commands. The plan is to gradually bring them together so they can operate on the same part of the front.

Part of Skelia will move to the Dobropillia direction, where Azov Corps is deployed. Other elements remain on their current assignments for now, including the Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and Kostiantynivka directions.

Bratushchak said Skelia’s command has already met with Azov and established cooperation. He described the decision as one made by Drapatyi and said the regiment views it positively.

The move follows personnel changes that began earlier in August. On 7 August, Ukrainska Pravda reported that Skelia had begun transferring soldiers to around 10 other units, citing sources in the regiment and Ukraine’s Defense Forces. 

The regiment confirmed that personnel were being reassigned on orders from higher command, while stressing that its units remained at their positions and continued carrying out combat tasks. The number of troops being transferred was not disclosed.

The move is part of Drapatyi’s ongoing reforms of Ukraine’s armed forces following his appointment as commander-in-chief. In July, the General Staff launched an audit of how personnel are distributed among brigades, regiments, and corps, reflecting Drapatyi’s focus on addressing imbalances in how Ukraine’s forces are manned.

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Skelia remains a separate regiment under Azov’s operational command

The change does not dissolve Skelia or turn it into an Azov unit. The regiment remains a separate military formation, while Azov Corps takes operational control over its forces for combat tasks.

Ukraine has been reorganizing its ground forces around corps-level commands, intended to give commanders greater control over multiple brigades and regiments operating in the same area.

Azov itself is now the core of Ukraine’s 1st National Guard Corps, commanded by Brigadier General Denys Prokopenko, known by his call sign “Redis.” The corps has been operating in the Donetsk region as part of Ukraine’s effort to consolidate forces and command structures on the battlefield.

The backdrop: deaths and abuse allegations inside Skelia

The reorganization comes less than two months after a major investigation into conditions inside Skelia’s training system triggered criminal and institutional investigations.

Babel’s investigation published in June documented 25 non-combat deaths among Skelia recruits between late 2025 and spring 2026, including cases where forensic findings raised questions about reported causes of death. Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigations opened a criminal case, and Skelia’s commander was suspended pending the investigation.

Skelia confirmed that 25 of the 26 deaths cited in the investigation had occurred but disputed some of the reported circumstances. The regiment has denied that abuse was systemic.

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The investigation has since produced further legal action. Two Skelia servicemen were placed in pretrial detention in July over allegations of illegally detaining and beating fellow soldiers. 

On 11 August, Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Fediyenko said, citing National Police data, that 103 criminal proceedings had been opened in 2026 over non-combat deaths in the regiment, with three people charged and one case sent to court.

The new operational arrangement does not itself indicate a change in the status of those investigations. Skelia’s communications office has said personnel transfers and organizational decisions are matters for higher military command and part of the management of Ukraine’s armed forces during wartime.

Russian security services are increasingly recruiting Ukrainians to carry out sabotage, terrorist attacks, and killings, with police reporting a sharp rise in attacks linked to such recruitment since 2024, according to independent Ukrainian outlet Babel.

Since the start of 2026, Ukraine’s National Police and Security Service have registered 31 terrorist attacks, 80% of which have been solved, while another 14 were prevented during preparation.

Authorities have also registered 11 cases of military personnel being poisoned that are being investigated for links to Russian recruitment.

From simple tasks to terrorism

Andrii Niebytov, deputy head of the National Police and chief of criminal police, said Russian recruitment became systematic in early 2024, Babel reported.

Russian handlers typically approach people through Telegram channels and chats where users seek work, easy money, or drugs. The first assignment may appear harmless: photographing a location, passing information, moving a package, or delivering an item.

The tasks can then escalate into property damage, arson, terrorist attacks, and killings. Police say handlers can gradually involve recruits in more serious crimes before using threats or blackmail to keep them under control.

The increase is reflected in police figures. Russian operatives used Ukrainian recruits to carry out nine terrorist attacks in 2024, according to data cited by Babel. The figure rose to 61 in 2025, including 27 attacks that police stopped during preparation. Authorities solved 52 terrorist cases that year.

Military personnel targeted through poisoning

One increasingly dangerous part of the recruitment campaign involves attempts to target Ukrainian service members.

Police have registered 11 poisoning cases since the beginning of 2026 in which investigators are examining or have established links to Russian recruitment, Babel reported.

In some cases, Russian handlers have used young women to establish contact with soldiers, arrange meetings, or deliver poisoned items.

In late July, police detained a 20-year-old woman in Poltava who is suspected of poisoning two soldiers with drugs allegedly provided to her by mail.

In Rivne, investigators are examining the death of a soldier allegedly poisoned by a minor girl with a drug mixed with alcohol. The Russian handler reportedly installed tracking software on the girl’s phone and remotely monitored her actions.

A toolkit built around vulnerability

Russian operatives use different entry points depending on the target. Some recruits are drawn in by promises of easy money or drugs, while others are manipulated through personal relationships or threatened with supposed criminal prosecution.

One scheme involves fraudulent call centers operating in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. Callers impersonate Security Service of Ukraine officials and accuse targets of offenses such as buying Russian-made goods or financing Russia.

Police are investigating 449 fraud cases involving this scheme. But according to Babel, the same tactic is now also being used for recruitment.

After intimidating targets, callers send fake summonses, notices of suspicion, or other documents through messaging apps. They then offer to help the person avoid prosecution in exchange for carrying out criminal assignments.

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Children used as disposable operatives

Russian handlers have also targeted minors, who can be easier to manipulate and may be used as intermediaries or perpetrators.

The National Police said 260 children have independently contacted authorities after being approached by Russian recruiters, according to Babel. Their reports helped prevent terrorist attacks in which minors were allegedly intended to be used as perpetrators.

Police say Russian intelligence services are constantly changing their methods, while the basic pattern remains consistent: identify a vulnerability, offer or impose an initial task, and gradually draw the recruit into more serious criminal activity.

Ukrainian authorities are urging people approached with suspicious offers or assignments to stop contact and report the recruitment attempt immediately.

Finland will provide €28.5 million ($33.2 million) to support new power generation in Ukraine, with Finnish company Wärtsilä selected to supply the equipment, Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on 13 August.

Ukraine’s power system has been repeatedly damaged by Russian attacks, leaving the country facing each winter with reduced generation capacity and a heightened risk of electricity and heating disruptions. Strengthening distributed generation is therefore a key part of keeping essential services running when further strikes hit the energy grid, as they are expected to do ahead of the 2026-27 winter season.

The total value of the power plant technology is €46.5 million, with Ukraine covering the remaining cost. The plants will be manufactured in Vaasa, Finland, with the Ministry saying it will support Finnish jobs and exports while adding generation capacity to Ukraine’s war-damaged energy system.

Power generation for Ukraine’s winter

Ukraine’s state energy company Ukrnafta is purchasing the power plants to strengthen electricity production, with the need particularly acute ahead of another winter under Russian attacks.

“Reliable energy production is vital, particularly in winter months, when Russian strikes on energy infrastructure have made day-to-day life in Ukraine difficult,” Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s electricity generation, transmission, gas, and heating infrastructure since the full-scale invasion. The attacks have caused widespread blackouts and damaged or destroyed large parts of Ukraine’s generation capacity.

Previous winters have shown the consequences. Russian strikes have repeatedly caused rolling blackouts, while damage to heating infrastructure has threatened access to heat and water during freezing weather.

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Ukrainian officials have warned that the coming winter could be more difficult than previous ones, as Russia is expected to again target Ukraine’s energy, heating, and water infrastructure. Russia has already intensified attacks on Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure this summer, raising concerns that the campaign against essential services could escalate further during the winter months.

Finnish technology heads to Ukraine

Wärtsilä Finland Oy will manufacture the power plants in Vaasa.

Finnish Foreign Trade and Development Minister Ville Tavio said the project combines support for Ukraine with Finland’s energy-sector expertise.

“Finland has world class energy sector expertise that can benefit Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts,” Tavio said. “I am pleased that Finnish technology and Finnish workers are playing a part in strengthening the security of Ukraine’s energy supply.”

How Finland is financing the project

The €28.5 million Finnish contribution comes through the Finland–Ukraine Investment Facility, which supports public investments in Ukraine using Finnish technology, expertise, and services.

Finland’s funding will cover the interest costs and capital of the investment loan Ukraine will take out for the project. Finnish export credit agency Finnvera is providing a 100% export guarantee for the loan.

The project combines immediate energy support for Ukraine with Finnish financing, technology, and manufacturing capacity.

Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck a Russian Nebo-U long-range radar in occupied Sevastopol and several other military targets in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories during a series of overnight attacks on 13 August, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported.

The strikes are part of Ukraine’s broader “Middle-Strike” campaign, which targets Russian military infrastructure beyond the immediate front line.

Nebo-U radar hit in Sevastopol

The most significant overnight target was a Russian Nebo-U radar station in Sevastopol, occupied Crimea.

The Nebo-U is a Russian long-range, three-coordinate radar operating in the meter wavelength range. It is designed to detect and track airborne targets, including aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.

The General Staff said disabling the radar weakens Russia’s ability to detect and track incoming aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, potentially making it harder for Russian forces to detect future Ukrainian strikes and giving Ukrainian weapons a better chance of reaching their targets.

The Nebo-U is estimated to cost around $100 million, making it a high-value Russian surveillance system.

The radar strike supposedly came during a broader Ukrainian drone attack on Sevastopol that also damaged energy infrastructure, according to Russian occupation authorities. The attack caused a citywide blackout before power was later restored through a temporary setup. Ukrainian drones also reportedly targeted the Balaklava power plant, one of Crimea’s two main power stations.

Earlier strikes hit Crimean military infrastructure

The General Staff also reported strikes on Russian military infrastructure in occupied Crimea on 12 August, including a control tower at the Saky airfield.

Ukrainian forces also struck a communications relay near Chornomorske used to control Russian Geran and Gerbera strike drones, according to the General Staff. It said the strikes weaken Russia’s ability to operate the military airfield and control its attack drones.

Russian logistics and supply sites targeted

Ukrainian forces also struck a Russian drone control center near Myrne in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a fuel and lubricants depot near Dovzhansk in occupied Luhansk Oblast, and an ammunition depot near Novyi Hai in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Another strike hit a Russian logistics and equipment depot near Kalanchak in occupied Kherson Oblast.

The General Staff said these strikes disrupt Russian logistics and reduce the military’s ability to accumulate and use ammunition, equipment, and personnel.

Strike reported inside Russia

Ukraine also reported striking a Russian personnel concentration area near Butyrky in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast.

The General Staff did not provide details on the weapons used, the scale of damage, or possible casualties at the individual sites.

The latest report is part of Ukraine’s continued campaign to strike Russian military infrastructure beyond the battlefield. The “Middle-Strike” concept focuses on targets that support Russia’s ability to conduct and sustain combat operations, including command, logistics, air defense, and other military facilities.

The General Staff said Ukrainian forces continue to carry out strikes against key Russian military targets.

A Russian ballistic strike on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, killed seven employees of the Zaporizhstal steel plant and injured 21 others, Ukrainian steelmaker Metinvest, the plant’s majority owner, said on 11 August.

The workers were on their way to a shelter after an air raid alert was announced when the strike hit the industrial site, according to the company. 

Metinvest said the attack also damaged energy facilities and infrastructure, as well as the main and auxiliary facilities of the plant’s coke and blast-furnace operations.

Russia’s ballistic missile strikes leave very little time between threat detection and impact for people to react and reach shelter. Several people have been killed from strikes across the country while on their way to bomb shelters. 

Zaporizhstal shuts down after strike

Metinvest said Zaporizhstal has been completely shut down following the attack, while its other production sites in the city are operating at reduced capacity.

Company specialists are assessing the damage and determining the scope and timeline of repairs. Emergency and restoration work is already underway, according to the statement.

The company said its Zaporizhzhia facilities are civilian industrial sites that employ tens of thousands of people and produce steelmaking and coke-chemical products.

Metinvest said it is providing medical assistance and support to the 21 injured employees and staying in contact with the families of those killed and wounded.

The company's facilities will fly flags at half-mast on 11 and 12 August in mourning for the seven Zaporizhstal workers killed in the attack.

North Korean missiles used against Zaporizhzhia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Zaporizhzhia was targeted overnight with North Korean ballistic missiles, Russian Zircon missiles and guided aerial bombs.

Zelenskyy said the attack was designed to cause maximum damage to civilian infrastructure.

Ukraine's military intelligence said on 5 August that a North Korean missile unit had begun deploying to western Russia, potentially adding up to 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers to Russia's arsenal.

According to Ukrainian intelligence representative Andrii Cherniak, North Korea has supplied Russia with around 150 KN-23 and KN-24 missiles since late 2023, including a recent batch of 40 missiles.

The missiles have been linked to attacks with high civilian casualties, including a July strike on Radushne in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast that killed an entire family.

Ballistic threat is growing

The strike comes as Russia has increasingly relied on ballistic missiles in attacks on Ukrainian cities. Unlike drones and cruise missiles, ballistic missiles travel at very high speeds and are much harder for Ukraine to intercept, particularly because Kyiv has a limited supply of the advanced air defense interceptors needed to counter them, mainly US-made Patriot systems.

Ukraine has reported that most ballistic missiles launched in recent mass attacks have penetrated its air defenses, contributing to severe destruction and civilian casualties.

A North Korean missile unit has begun deploying to western Russia and could soon operate up to 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for strikes against Ukraine, according to Ukraine's military intelligence agency, Reuters reports.

Russia has sharply increased its use of ballistic missiles against Ukraine in recent months. Unlike drones and cruise missiles, ballistic missiles are much harder to intercept, and most launched in recent barrages have penetrated Ukraine's air defenses, causing widespread destruction and high civilian casualties.

North Korean missile unit deploying to Russia

Andrii Cherniak, a representative of Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR), told Reuters that around 90 North Korean personnel are expected to be stationed in Russia's Voronezh Oblast within the Russian military's 112th Missile Brigade.

According to Cherniak, Pyongyang has already delivered another batch of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles to Russia along with personnel. He said the final structure of the deployment and the total number of missiles are expected to be decided during high-level talks between Moscow and Pyongyang next month.

Reuters said it could not independently verify the intelligence assessment. Russia's Defense Ministry and North Korea's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ballistic missile threat grows

The reported deployment comes as Russia increasingly relies on ballistic missiles, which are far more difficult for Ukraine to intercept than drones or cruise missiles.

Ukraine has warned for months that shortages of Patriot interceptor missiles leave it vulnerable to ballistic attacks. Last week, Russia launched what Ukrainian officials identified as the first North Korean ballistic missiles used against Ukraine since August 2025.

According to Cherniak, Russia has already received about 150 KN-23 and KN-24 missiles from North Korea since late 2023. The latest shipment of 40 missiles was reportedly used in last week's attacks.

Cherniak said North Korean KN-23 and KN-24 missiles carry larger warheads and have greater range than Russia's Iskander ballistic missiles, although they are less accurate and have been associated with strikes causing high civilian casualties, including last week's strike on the village of Radushne in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast that killed an entire family.

Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, told Reuters that additional North Korean ballistic missiles would pose a significant challenge for Ukraine because ballistic missile defense remains one of Kyiv's greatest vulnerabilities.

The report comes as Russia continues to intensify its ballistic missile attacks on Ukraine. Overnight on 5 August, a combined missile and drone barrage on Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast killed at least 16 people, marking the third mass strike on the capital in a week.

Expanding military cooperation

The reported missile unit deployment would mark another step in the rapidly expanding military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

North Korea has already supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells and, according to Ukrainian officials, deployed about 14,000 troops to Russia's Kursk Oblast in 2024. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last month that Russia was preparing to receive an additional 30,000 North Korean troops in Voronezh Oblast.

Cherniak told Reuters that about 9,500 North Korean soldiers remain in Russia's Kursk Oblast but are not currently participating directly in combat operations against Ukraine.

The United States is reorganizing its Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U), shifting greater responsibility for coordinating military assistance to European allies while maintaining support for Kyiv, US European Command (USEUCOM) announced on 3 August.

The changes affect the division of responsibilities between SAG-U, US military components, and NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU). According to USEUCOM, the reorganization is intended to improve the efficiency of military assistance while transferring leadership of key elements of the mission to allied countries.

Established in November 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion, the headquarters oversees long-term security assistance for Ukraine, including coordinating equipment deliveries, training Ukrainian forces, and sharing battlefield lessons learned with US and NATO militaries.

Pentagon says support for Ukraine will continue

USEUCOM said the reorganization "will not impact US support for Ukraine" and would free US resources for other global priorities while recognizing Europe's growing role in supporting Ukraine's defense.

"Allies have shown that they can take the lead in support of Ukraine's defense," USEUCOM commander Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich said.

"SAG-U was always meant to be a temporary command. Its transition builds on the progress that we have already seen, helping to set conditions for lasting peace in Ukraine."

US Army Europe and Africa spokesperson Col. Michael Weisman similarly said the reorganization "does not diminish our support or commitment to Ukraine" and that Washington would continue coordinating assistance through USEUCOM and NSATU in line with US policy.

Shift follows broader push for Europe to take the lead

The announcement follows reports that the Pentagon plans to hand leadership of SAG-U to another NATO member over the coming year while retaining a US deputy commander, a move reported by Politico.

According to the outlet, the transition forms part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to shift more responsibility for European security onto NATO allies. The administration has previously reduced US leadership roles within NATO's command structure and has repeatedly called on European countries to assume a greater share of the burden for Ukraine's defense and the alliance's collective security.

USEUCOM likewise said the realignment reflects Europe's leading role in supporting Ukraine over the past year.

USEUCOM said SAG-U has distributed more than $2 billion in security assistance over the past three and a half years while coordinating military aid from allied and partner nations.

Lithuania plans to establish production of Ukrainian-designed drones on its territory under a bilateral defense industry agreement, expanding Ukraine's manufacturing capacity abroad while strengthening Europe's defense industrial base, according to Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT.

Ukraine has increasingly pursued joint weapons production with allied countries as it seeks to scale up output, attract foreign investment, and build manufacturing capacity beyond the reach of Russian missile and drone attacks.

Bilateral drone agreement enters implementation phase

Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said the project will be carried out through joint investments under a defense industry cooperation agreement signed by Lithuania and Ukraine in May.

Speaking to the business daily Verslo žinios, Kaunas said his ministry was reorganizing its team to begin implementing what he described as the two countries' "drone deal."

"We have an agreement with Ukraine known as the drone deal. Changes are currently being made within the ministry's team to bring in key personnel who will begin translating that agreement into practical solutions on the ground, so that we can localize Ukrainian drone production in Lithuania," Kaunas said, according to LRT.

He said the drones would be manufactured in Lithuania using Ukrainian technology.

The agreement, signed by Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Gitanas Nausėda in May, provides for the joint production of four classes of Ukrainian drones – long-range strike drones, naval drones, interceptor drones, and bomber drones – as well as technology transfer and broader cooperation in air defense, missile defense, and unmanned systems.

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Ukraine builds production capacity with allies

Kaunas said the initiative would benefit both countries by expanding Ukraine's production capacity while helping Lithuania develop its own defense industry through new manufacturing capabilities, technological advances, and cooperation between Lithuanian and Ukrainian engineers.

For Kyiv, producing weapons abroad has become an increasingly important part of its defense strategy. Manufacturing in partner countries allows Ukrainian companies to expand output, access investment and industrial capacity, build more resilient supply chains, and reduce the risk of disruption from Russian long-range strikes while giving allies access to battlefield-tested Ukrainian technology.

Lithuania was among the first countries to back the initiative, having previously agreed to finance Ukrainian long-range drone production before formalizing the broader partnership this year.

Lithuania expands cooperation with Ukraine's defense industry

LRT reported that several Ukrainian defense companies have already received approval from Lithuania's national security commission to establish operations in the country, according to Invest Lithuania CEO Elijus Čivilis.

In June, Kaunas also invited Luxembourg-based drone manufacturer Luxuav, founded by Ukrainians, to conduct testing in Lithuania, underscoring the country's growing role as a base for Ukrainian defense technology and manufacturing in Europe.

Syria has told the United States it is willing to drastically reduce imports of Russian crude oil as part of discussions over lifting Washington's remaining terrorism-related sanctions on the country, according to three sources familiar with the talks cited by Reuters.

The reported commitment would mark a significant shift for Damascus, which has remained heavily dependent on Russian oil since the fall of Bashar al-Assad despite pursuing closer ties with Western governments.

Russian oil reportedly discussed during sanctions negotiations

According to Reuters, senior Syrian officials told US counterparts they were prepared to reduce Russian oil imports during negotiations over removing Syria from the US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST), one of the last major sanctions designations still applied to the country.

US President Donald Trump announced in July that he intends to rescind Syria's designation, which has been in place since 1979, but the move remains subject to a congressional review period before taking effect.

Three sources told Reuters that the United States requested such a reduction and Damascus agreed, although they said Washington did not formally make it a precondition for lifting the designation.

A US State Department official told Reuters that Washington is encouraging Syria to work with "trusted corporate partners," particularly US companies, during the country's reconstruction and expects Damascus to comply with sanctions targeting Russia.

A White House official, meanwhile, said there was no formal link between removing Syria from the terrorism list and reducing Russian oil imports.

Removing the designation would eliminate one of the biggest remaining barriers to Syria's economic reintegration. While many US sanctions have already been lifted, the terrorism designation continues to restrict access to US assistance and complicate foreign investment, banking, and broader commercial ties, making its removal a key priority for Damascus.

Syria seeks alternatives to Russian crude

Despite improving relations with the West, Syria remains heavily reliant on Russian energy supplies. Reuters reported that Russian crude shipments to Syria have risen by 75% this year to around 60,000 barrels per day, making Moscow the country's dominant oil supplier.

One Syrian source told Reuters that Syrian officials have argued they currently rely on Russian oil out of necessity rather than preference, saying the removal of the terrorism designation would allow Damascus to diversify its energy imports.

A Syrian energy official also told Reuters the government is already searching for alternative suppliers and expects a "radical change" in the country's energy sourcing.

Analysts told Reuters that replacing Russian crude quickly could prove difficult without creating fuel shortages or increasing import costs.

Part of broader US effort to reduce Russia's regional influence

The reported discussions reflect a broader US effort to weaken Russia's remaining economic and strategic influence in Syria following Assad's removal from power.

Reuters noted that Washington has recently placed greater emphasis on reducing Moscow's role in the country, while Congress has directed the Pentagon to examine options for limiting Russia's military presence, including at its naval facility in Tartus and the Hmeimim air base.

The move also mirrors broader efforts to curb demand for Russian energy beyond the European Union. Last month, Georgia's sanctioned Kulevi oil refinery announced it had begun replacing Russian crude with supplies from Kazakhstan and Libya after the EU imposed sanctions over its processing of Russian oil, giving the company six months to complete the transition.

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) says it has struck more than 100 strategic military and industrial targets inside Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories during a 40-day campaign approved by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The coordinated 40-day campaign combined long-range strikes deep inside Russia with frontline operations, aiming to simultaneously erode Moscow's military production, logistics, fuel supplies, air defenses, and combat capabilities rather than focusing on a single target set. 

In a statement on 4 August, the SBU said the operation targeted Russia's military-industrial complex, air bases, air defense systems, command posts, oil refineries, transport and military logistics infrastructure, as well as vessels from Russia's sanctions-evading "shadow fleet."

The agency said Zelenskyy has also approved a new series of operations proposed by SBU chief Maj. Gen. Oleksandr Poklad.

Campaign targeted air bases, oil facilities, and shadow fleet

According to the SBU, one of the campaign's main objectives was degrading Russia's military aviation and air defense capabilities.

The agency said it struck the Saky, Hvardiiske, Belbek, Bagerovo, Engels, and Khanskaya air bases, as well as the Yevpatoria aviation plant. It claimed the attacks destroyed one Tu-95MS strategic bomber, damaged two Su-35 fighter jets and two L-39 trainer aircraft, and hit hangars housing Su-24, Su-30, and Su-30SM aircraft, Shahed drone storage facilities, and airfield fuel infrastructure.

The SBU also reported strikes on Russian air defense assets, including a Nebo-U radar, the 92N6E engagement radar of an S-400 system, Tor-M2 and Pantsir-S2 air defense systems, a Pole-21 electronic warfare system, and several Podlyot-K1 and Kasta-2E2 radar stations.

The agency said it also struck 14 oil refineries, dozens of oil depots, pumping stations, terminals, and storage facilities, naming refineries in St. Petersburg, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Volgograd, and Ufa among the targets.

It further claimed attacks on the tankers Blue, Louise 1, Banda, and Avero, along with two cargo vessels already under international sanctions, as part of efforts to disrupt Russia's "shadow fleet."

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SBU reports thousands of battlefield targets hit

Alongside its long-range operations, the SBU said its frontline units struck more than 21,000 items of Russian military equipment, weapons, and infrastructure during the same 40-day period, while killing nearly 5,000 Russian troops.

According to the statement, those strikes included 24 tanks, 63 armored vehicles, 124 artillery systems, 22 multiple-launch rocket systems, 40 air defense systems, and 14 aircraft and helicopters.

The agency also said it destroyed more than 11,000 enemy drones and ground robotic systems, including 176 Shahed attack drones, and struck 712 drone crews together with their launch sites and equipment.

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Part of Ukraine's broader deep-strike campaign

The figures add to a series of increasingly ambitious Ukrainian long-range strikes targeting Russia's military infrastructure, oil industry, and logistics network.

Over recent months, Ukraine has claimed attacks on strategic bomber bases, air defense systems, oil refineries, and vessels involved in transporting Russian oil despite Western sanctions. 

Kyiv says the campaign aims to reduce Russia's ability to sustain its war against Ukraine by degrading both its military capabilities and the economic infrastructure supporting them.

Georgia's only oil refinery says it has begun replacing Russian crude with supplies from Kazakhstan and Libya.

The update comes after the European Union sanctioned the refinery for processing Russian crude as part of its effort to curb revenues funding Moscow's war against Ukraine. Brussels gave the company six months to end its reliance on Russian oil before the restrictions take effect.

In a statement released on 31 July, Black Sea Petroleum (BSP), which operates the Kulevi Oil Refinery on Georgia's Black Sea coast, said implementation of its crude supply diversification plan was already under way and remained on schedule.

Kazakh crude already being refined

The company said the refinery began processing crude oil of Kazakh origin at the beginning of July, with the remaining contracted volumes to be refined during August.

BSP also announced that, under an agreement signed with an international trading company on 3 July, a cargo of Libyan crude is expected to arrive at Kulevi between 20 and 30 August. The contract runs through the end of 2027 and includes an option to extend it.

According to the company, the transition will allow the refinery to operate entirely on non-Russian crude beginning in August and September, in line with plans announced on 1 July.

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Company seeks to satisfy EU sanctions requirements

The statement follows the European Union's decision on 24 July to sanction the Kulevi refinery as part of its 21st sanctions package against Russia. The measures prohibit transactions with the refinery after a six-month transition period, giving the company time to end its reliance on Russian crude.

BSP said the European Commission had acknowledged during a 24 July press briefing that the transition period was intended to enable the refinery to diversify its crude supplies. The company said the steps it has already taken are consistent with that objective and the timeline set by Brussels.

The refinery said it would continue working with the European Commission and other relevant authorities while providing "clear, verifiable evidence" of its progress toward eliminating Russian feedstock.

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First major Georgian company sanctioned by the EU

The sanctions marked the first time the EU targeted a major Georgian company under its Russia sanctions regime.

The refinery came under scrutiny after Reuters reported in 2025 that it had begun processing crude supplied by Russian producer Russneft. According to research by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), the refinery received six shipments of Russian crude between October 2025 and May 2026, while refined products were exported to EU member states including Spain and Bulgaria.

EU officials have said the refinery could be removed from the sanctions list if it demonstrates that it has fully phased out Russian crude in line with its commitments.

Iran was prepared to carry out strikes on Ukraine after Kyiv attacked an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea last month but suspended the plan after Ukraine said the strike had been unintended, a senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader has claimed.

According to Radio Svoboda, Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, made the remarks during an interview with Iranian state television on 3 August.

"We were ready to strike three locations in Ukraine, but after they said the attack was a mistake, we suspended our response to consider their claim," Rezaei said. "In any case, they will have to pay for their attack."

Ukraine had not publicly responded to Rezaei's latest comments.

Caspian Sea strike sparked diplomatic contacts

The remarks follow a Ukrainian strike on an Iranian cargo vessel in the Caspian Sea on 25 July.

Tehran said the ship was carrying civilian cargo and that an Iranian sailor was killed in the attack. Ukraine, however, said the vessel was transporting Iranian drone and missile components to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine.

Following the incident, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said he had spoken with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to prevent further escalation.

Sybiha said Ukraine's actions were directed solely at defending the country from Russian aggression and "never intended to target civilian vessels or people." He added that Russia was "the root cause of all incidents" and bore "full responsibility for all provocations and casualties."

He also urged Iran to avoid escalatory steps and end its military support for Russia's war.

Iran has repeatedly threatened retaliation

Iran has repeatedly threatened retaliation over the Caspian Sea strike, while Kyiv has dismissed the warnings.

Military ties between Tehran and Moscow have deepened since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Iran has supplied Russia with Shahed attack drones, which have become a mainstay of Moscow's long-range strikes against Ukrainian cities. Ukraine has previously argued that Iran's military assistance makes it complicit in Russia's war.

Rezaei's statement is the clearest public claim so far that Iran had considered direct military action against Ukraine before deciding against it.

Ukraine's Air Force says its air defenses have destroyed more than 445,000 Russian aerial targets since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, according to figures released on 2 August.

The numbers come as Russia is reshaping much of its aerial campaign around ballistic missiles, exposing one of the few remaining vulnerabilities in Ukraine's air defense network despite its continued success against drones and cruise missiles.

The statistics were published in a statement marking more than four and a half years of resistance since Russia launched its all-out invasion on 24 February 2022. The Air Force said its personnel preserved Ukraine's air defense network under sustained missile and air attacks from the opening hours of the war, preventing Russia from achieving its initial objective of subjugating the country.

The statement paid tribute to fighter pilots, air defense missile units, radar troops, drone operators, communications specialists, and support personnel involved in defending Ukraine's airspace.

More than 65,000 Shaheds intercepted

According to the Air Force, Ukraine's air defenses have destroyed more than 445,000 aerial targets since February 2022, including:

• 91 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles
• 794 Kalibr cruise missiles
• 2,809 Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles
• 13 Kh-22/32 cruise missiles
• 12 Oniks anti-ship missiles
• 294 Iskander-K cruise missiles
• 346 Iskander-M and North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles
• 12 Zircon anti-ship missiles
• 622 guided air-launched missiles
• More than 70 missiles of other types
• 65,618 Shahed attack drones
• 20,286 reconnaissance drones
• 10,604 Lancet loitering munitions
• 342,585 drones of other types

Air Force reports more than 38,000 combat sorties

The Air Force said Ukrainian military aviation carried out 38,367 sorties between 2022 and 2026, including 12,280 strike and close air support missions and 21,524 fighter cover missions.

It added that aircraft from Ukraine's Defense Forces have destroyed more than 12,000 aerial targets during the full-scale war while striking Russian command posts, logistics facilities, and concentrations of troops and military equipment.

The statement also honored fallen service members and thanked those who continue defending Ukraine's skies.

Russia's ballistic missile attacks rise, breaking through Ukraine’s proven air defenses

The figures come as Russia increasingly turns to using ballistic missiles against Ukrainian cities, which are among the most difficult threats for Ukraine's air defenses to intercept.

Russia launched 126 ballistic missiles against Ukraine in July, the highest monthly total recorded this year. The attacks included Iskander-M missiles, North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles, and S-300 and S-400 air defense missiles repurposed for ground strikes.

The shift is exposing a growing vulnerability in Ukraine's air defense network. Unlike drones and cruise missiles, ballistic missiles can only be reliably intercepted by a limited number of advanced systems, primarily the US-made Patriot with PAC-3 interceptors, which remain in short supply in the country. 

Ukraine has urged international partners to provide more of these interceptors, but these efforts have not led to any major supply breakthroughs and have so far not made a significant difference.

The trend towards ballistic missile use suggests Russia is increasingly exploiting one of the few remaining gaps in Ukraine's air defense shield.

While Ukraine continues to destroy large numbers of drones and cruise missiles, the growing use of ballistic missiles is placing mounting pressure on its most limited and hardest-to-replace interceptor stocks, all while causing mass civilian casualties and major damage to cities across the country.

A drone entered Romanian airspace near the Danube Delta on 2 August, prompting the Romanian Air Force to scramble F-16 fighter jets and issue an air raid alert for residents in Tulcea County before the aircraft re-entered Ukraine, where it was shot down by Ukrainian forces.

The incident comes a week after Romania shot down three drones during Russian attacks on Ukraine that crossed into its airspace, ending years of merely escorting such intrusions. 

Romania's Ministry of National Defence said radar detected the aerial target near the country's river border with Ukraine at 15:09 local time. Two F-16s from the 86th Air Base at Borcea took off eight minutes later to monitor the situation, while authorities sent a RO-Alert warning to residents in Tulcea County.

According to the ministry, the drone flew for about 20 minutes over Romania's territorial waters and along the Sulina branch of the Danube while remaining in Romanian airspace before crossing back into Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces subsequently shot down the drone, Romanian authorities said.

Drone debris lands near Romanian border

Romania said drone debris fell on agricultural land near the village of Periprava, around one kilometer from the Ukrainian border.

No casualties or property damage were reported, and the air raid alert for Tulcea County was lifted at 16:05.

The Romanian military did not identify the drone or say whether it had entered Romanian airspace intentionally or while flying toward targets in Ukraine.

Latest in a series of cross-border incidents

The incident comes just a week after Romania abandoned its long-standing practice of merely monitoring drones that entered its airspace during Russian attacks on Ukraine.

Between 24 and 26 July, Romanian F-16s shot down three drones that violated the country's airspace – the first known interceptions of their kind by the Romanian Air Force. Romanian prosecutors later identified at least one of the aircraft as a Russian Shahed attack drone, prompting Bucharest to prepare a formal diplomatic protest to Moscow.

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Romania's shift reflects growing concern over repeated Russian drone incursions during attacks on Ukraine's Danube ports, which lie just across the river from NATO territory. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, drone debris has repeatedly fallen on Romanian soil, and in May a Russian Geran-2 drone struck a residential building in Galați, injuring civilians.

Unlike the previous three incidents, Romanian fighters did not engage the drone on 2 August, with Ukrainian forces ultimately shooting it down after it left Romanian airspace.

Ukraine's Defense Forces struck a major oil refinery, a strategic bomber airbase, a military fuel depot, and multiple drone-related facilities across Russia as part of an overnight campaign targeting the country's military and industrial infrastructure, Ukraine's General Staff reported on 2 August.

The military said the operation was carried out overnight on 2 August as part of efforts to reduce Russia's military and economic potential to wage war against Ukraine. These long-range strikes are intended to disrupt fuel supplies, strategic aviation, drone operations, and logistics supporting Russia's invasion.

The reported attacks are part of Ukraine's sustained campaign of deep strikes inside Russia, which has increasingly targeted oil refineries, fuel depots, airbases, ammunition storage sites, defense industry facilities, and drone infrastructure. These facilities directly support Russia's war effort and are therefore legitimate military targets. 

Saratov refinery and Engels airbase targeted

According to the General Staff, Ukrainian forces struck the Saratov Oil Refinery in Russia's Saratov Oblast, causing a fire at the facility.

The military described the refinery as one of the largest in Russia's Volga region, with an annual processing capacity of around 7 million metric tons of crude oil. It said the plant helps supply fuel to Russia's military-industrial complex and armed forces.

The extent of the damage is still being assessed.

Ukraine also reported striking Russia's Engels airbase in Saratov Oblast, with a fire breaking out after the attack.

The Engels base is one of Russia's main strategic aviation hubs, hosting Tu-95MS and Tu-160 long-range bombers that have repeatedly launched cruise missile attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure since the start of the full-scale invasion. 

The airbase has been targeted by Ukrainian long-range strikes on multiple previous occasions in an effort to complicate Russia's strategic aviation operations.

Fuel depot and drone infrastructure hit

In Kaluga Oblast, Ukrainian forces said they struck the Lyudinovo oil depot, which the General Staff said is used to store and supply fuel and lubricants for the Russian military.

The overnight operation also targeted a site used to store, prepare, and launch attack drones near Navlya in Russia's Bryansk Oblast, according to the statement.

Ukraine has increasingly focused on Russian drone infrastructure as Moscow expands its use of long-range Shahed-type attack drones and domestically produced variants in near-nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Drone command posts struck a day earlier

Separately, the General Staff said Ukrainian forces struck Russian drone command posts on 1 August near Olkhozhemchuhova in Russia's Kursk Oblast, as well as near Berestok in occupied Donetsk Oblast, Sichneve in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and Yablukove in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

The military said it would continue conducting operations aimed at degrading Russia's ability to sustain its armed aggression against Ukraine.