Kyiv Post

Russia’s Supreme Court upheld a ban barring Yabloko, the country’s only registered anti-war party, from September’s parliamentary elections. Party deputy chairman Lev Shlosberg was sentenced to 11 years in prison for criticizing the invasion of Ukraine.

Five civilians, including two 16-year-old boys, were injured in Russian attacks across Odesa region on Monday. Strikes damaged private residential homes and a restaurant, sparking fires in the region, including Chornomorsk. Photos: DSNS

Direct damage to Ukraine’s infrastructure from Russia’s invasion reached $197.5 billion as of February 2026, up 16% from late 2024. Housing remains the hardest hit at $65.9B, while energy-sector damage surged by 25% to $18.3B.

A drone crashed and exploded in an open field near the village of Talmaza in Moldova on Monday. Moldovan authorities are investigating the wreckage following Ukrainian reports of a Russian Banderol drone crossing the border from Odesa region. Video: Telegram channels

Russia is recruiting Ukrainian teenagers — some as young as 15 — from occupied territories into programs linked to its Shahed drone production. Using minors from occupied territory to support a war effort may constitute a war crime. Russia, however, presents the scheme as education and paid training for children.

Russia is scaling up jet-powered and missile drones, including newer Geran and Banderol models, to outpace Ukrainian air defenses and cut reaction times. The shift drives a new arms race as Ukraine deploys its own jet UAVs like Palyanytsya.

Russia may redeploy up to 20,000 combat-ready troops from its border regions to the most active front lines in Ukraine by replacing them with North Korean soldiers.

Ukraine’s parliament prepares for a high-stakes vote on Tuesday, to appoint a new Defense Minister, a role controlling a $100+ billion defense budget. The decision comes amid weeks of public protests following Mykhailo Fedorov's controversial removal.

Volodymyr Zelensky announced upcoming deep strikes inside Russia and impending personnel changes within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Kyiv has set long-range strike priorities through September after reviewing early August operations. Photo: Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram

Ukraine says an overnight strike on Russia’s Kamensky Combine destroyed two workshops and damaged four others at the major explosives plant. The facility produces explosives, gunpowder and solid rocket fuel used by Russia’s military.

Ukraine has stopped disclosing missile interception numbers as Russian ballistic barrages intensify and air defense interceptor deliveries slow down. With Russia aiming to scale simultaneous ballistic volleys, Kyiv urgently appeals to allies for more Patriot missiles.

Wildberries’ logistics center in Koledino, near Podolsk in Russia’s Moscow region, covers 229,500 square meters, making it the company’s largest hub and one of the key nodes in its network. The facility lies about 45 km (28 miles) south of Moscow. The latest images show the aftermath of strikes by Ukraine’s Defense Forces. One hit also struck a production building at the Wildberries warehouse complex, while other photos show damage from an earlier attack on the Koledino 3PL logistics center.

Conor Kennedy — the son of US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and great-nephew of President John F. Kennedy — joined Ukraine’s International Legion in 2022 and reportedly left after a brief stint later that year. A Moscow court has now accused him of “mercenarism,” placed him on Russia’s wanted list and says he faces seven to 10 years in prison.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged several messages with someone posing as Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles before becoming suspicious. The British embassy raised the incident with the White House and implied “national security” issues could have been discussed, while 10 Downing avows “no significance” to communiques.

Putin‘s forces continued offensive operations across several sectors on Aug. 15-16 but made no confirmed advances, ISW says. Russian troops increasingly relied on small infiltration groups, glide-bomb strikes and claims of territorial gains that Ukrainian and Russian sources disputed.

Two sides of today’s Russian reality: a Wildberries warehouse burning in the Moscow region, while drivers queue for fuel just nearby. Ukrainian strikes have increasingly targeted Russia’s logistics and energy infrastructure, disrupting warehouses, refineries and fuel supplies far from the front line. The contrast is becoming harder to ignore: fires at major commercial facilities on one side, growing petrol queues on the other. Video: Telegram channels

Binance provided Russian investigators with information about IT specialist Yuri Belenky, who had been living in the EU and donated cryptocurrency to Ukraine’s armed forces, Reuters reported. Russian authorities say he transferred more than 60,000 rubles — about $700 — between January 2023 and March 2024. The information was subsequently used as evidence in a Russian case accusing him of “financing terrorism”.

Patriot missiles are running short worldwide as Ukraine braces for another winter of Russian attacks. US and European stocks are under pressure, while plans to produce the interceptors in Ukraine still face major technical and political hurdles.