Background: Russian occupation authorities had announced a new school curriculum for occupied Ukrainian territories, including a 'Spiritual and Moral Culture of Russia' subject and split military training. The OSCE Moscow Mechanism expert mission, invoked by 41 participating states, reported in July 2026 that this education overhaul breaches international law, citing Article 43 of the Hague Regulations and Article 50 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The curriculum, effective September 1, 2026, affects over 582,000 children in nearly 2,000 schools, with the 'Spiritual and Moral Culture of Russia' subject for grades 5-7 and involvement of Russian Orthodox Church representatives in Crimea and Sevastopol. The three-tier behavior grading adds a compliance layer to a system already enforced through 'pervasive coercion.' The OSCE mission also documented 20,610 children as deported or forcibly transferred as of June 2026, with only 2,264 returned; Yale researchers estimate the total closer to 35,000. The European Parliament declared in May 2025 that Russia's forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children meets the legal definition of genocide. These actions are part of a broader effort to erase Ukrainian identity, constituting indoctrination and militarization of children.

Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation head Andrii Kovalenko denied plans to mobilize women or alter deferment rules for fathers of three children, responding to petitions proposing military service for childless able-bodied women and cancellation of deferment for fathers of three. This clarification follows previous official statements in April that no women's mobilization was being prepared.

Background: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously vowed to respond to every Russian strike and detailed recovery efforts in Odesa after a strike left over 300,000 households without power. Today, Zelensky reported that nearly 70,000 families in Odesa remain without power as of the evening following a Russian attack with ballistic missiles and strike drones on the night of August 9. Power has been restored to most consumers, but repair crews continue work with all necessary resources mobilized. The attack caused casualties and damaged infrastructure.

Background: Ukraine deployed 70 firefighters and 15 vehicles to France under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to assist in battling the Gironde wildfire, which has burned 42,000 hectares. The deployment began on 2 August and included a working meeting with French and EU officials. The Ukrainian team, operating independently due to language barriers, is stationed near Le Porge, where over 180 homes were destroyed. They are tasked with extinguishing remaining hotspots, protecting an equestrian center and young forest plantations, and have been working to protect critical infrastructure. The team is the largest foreign contingent, with about 250 other international firefighters from Slovenia, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Portugal also involved. The fire has come within 10 kilometers of Bordeaux's airport, and critical infrastructure near the city is threatened. Residents have only recently been allowed to return to the area. Ukraine's Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivskyi emphasized Ukraine's readiness to help despite the war, and noted potential for deploying SES aircraft if needed. The Ukrainian team continues to work on the ground, with the latest development being their ongoing efforts to extinguish remaining hotspots near Le Porge. Today, Ukrainian emergency crews extinguished a forest fire in France that threatened a settlement, using six water tankers and aerial support from three French aircraft. The fire covered about 1 hectare and was contained before reaching the village. Local residents expressed gratitude with a 'Thousand thanks' banner.

Background: Ukraine has intensified long-range drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure and deep into Moscow, with claims of drones reaching up to 3,500 km. New development: Al Jazeera reports from a secret launch site in eastern Ukraine, where soldiers prepare long-range drones capable of flying 2,000 km into Russia. The sites become immediate targets for Russian forces once drones are launched, highlighting the ongoing deep-strike campaign and the risks involved. The report underscores the high-risk nature of Ukraine's deep-strike campaign, as these launch sites are immediately targeted by Russian forces following drone launches.

Canada has imposed sanctions on Streit Group, a UAE-based armored vehicle manufacturer, for supplying military equipment to Russia's National Guard, which is involved in the war against Ukraine. The sanctions, announced by Foreign Minister Anita Anand, align with measures taken by Ukraine, the EU, and Switzerland, and aim to disrupt Russia's military supply chain. Ukrainian Acting Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha thanked Canada for the decision, emphasizing that companies aiding Russia's military must face consequences.

Background: Russia has been adapting its Shahed drone campaign by fitting electronic-warfare systems, scaling jet-powered Geran-3 and Geran-4 variants, and shifting attacks toward border targets as Ukrainian interception rates rose to 95%. In June 2026, Russian drone launches fell to 5,749 (92% intercepted) from a record 8,150 in May, attributed to Ukraine's Crimea-isolation campaign disrupting launch pads and potential production shifts at Alabuga and Kupol factories toward jet-powered Shahed-238 and Karrar variants. Ballistic missile interception remained low at 17%. Russia's Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bombers showed critical wear, limiting cruise missile launches to 34 of 92 (37% of capacity). On 2 July, Russia deployed one of the largest ever jet-powered Shahed-238 and Karrar drone salvos, which Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat confirmed are now used around-the-clock and are unreachable by interceptor UAVs, requiring missile-based defense. Today, Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk reported that Russia has changed its drone strike tactics in the Odesa region, now periodically using Banderol-type loitering munitions and jet-powered Shahed-238 drones. Ukrainian forces, including air force, naval aviation, army aviation, and interceptor drones, are working to counter these attacks. Since the evening of August 9, Ukrainian air defense neutralized 92 drones and three Banderol munitions.

Ukrainian partisan group ATESH claimed responsibility for sabotaging an electric locomotive near Voronezh, Russia, destroying its cab and forcing it to operate at reduced capacity. The locomotive was bound for the Kupiansk direction in Kharkiv Oblast, a key frontline sector. The disruption delays the assembly and dispatch of trains carrying ammunition, fuel, and equipment, compounding logistics problems for Russian forces. This attack is part of ATESH's ongoing campaign against Russian rail infrastructure to degrade military supply lines.

Russian forces are struggling to execute their standard urban-capture strategy—flanking and infiltration simultaneously—due to a severe infantry shortage around Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast. While Russia recruits about 30,000 troops monthly, this only replaces casualties and does not resource the strategy. Ukraine's commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi estimated Russian forces in Ukraine at 721,300, with monthly losses of 30,000-35,000. An anonymous Russian general told IStories that capturing the rest of Ukrainian-held Donbas would require replacing 55,000-60,000 casualties monthly, roughly double current recruitment. Analyst Vitaly describes the resulting effect as 'structural deterrence,' where Ukrainian defenses force Russian units to compensate for each other's failures, creating stalls.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry has launched Avengers Labs, a platform providing defense companies access to a curated dataset of 5 million battlefield images for training AI models. Developed by the Center for Innovation and Development of Defense Technologies, the platform draws data from the DELTA battle-management system and includes images of tanks, artillery, air-defense systems, infantry, and aerial targets. An AI system trained on this data is already operational, analyzing over 100,000 drone video streams monthly and detecting about 70% of enemy targets in real time. Ukrainian defense companies have signed licensing agreements, and partner-country firms can join after vetting to prevent leakage to Russia.

On August 10, Russian forces struck the administrative building of the Kunie Village Council in the Kharkiv region with a Banderol drone missile, injuring eight people, five of whom were hospitalized with blast and shrapnel wounds. The attack damaged the building, cars, and a tractor. This incident is part of ongoing Russian aerial assaults on civilian infrastructure in the Kharkiv region, causing casualties and property damage.

Background: Russian attacks on Kherson Oblast have repeatedly killed and injured civilians, damaging residential and civilian infrastructure. On August 10, Russian airstrikes targeted critical infrastructure in Kherson, causing electricity and water supply disruptions across the city. Three districts—Central, Dniprovskyi, and Korabelnyi—are partially without power. Local authorities reported the strikes as deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure, with damage assessment and emergency repairs underway. Additionally, a Russian drone struck a high-rise building in the Central District, injuring an elderly woman.

The Sverdlovsk Regional Court sentenced Ivan Stolbov, a 34-year-old Russian citizen who lived in Ukraine, to 13 years in a high-security penal colony for high treason. The conviction was based on 11 alleged donations totaling about 1,100 hryvnias (about $24.50) to an unidentified Ukrainian organization. This case highlights a broader pattern of Russian courts imposing long sentences on individuals for small financial transfers to Ukrainian entities, often under treason or extremism charges, as documented by Mediazona and the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group.

Background: Peru's Foreign Ministry had previously reported casualties and missing citizens among Peruvians who joined the Russia-Ukraine war, with 11 killed, 114 missing, and 459 identified as participants. Today: On August 9, 2026, Peru's foreign ministry officially reported that 459 Peruvians have been recruited into the Russian army, with 11 killed, 114 missing, and 3 captured. Additionally, 31 were evacuated, with three choosing to stay in Europe. The recruitment often involves deception, with promises of high salaries and rear positions, followed by document confiscation and deployment to the front. Relatives of the recruited men demonstrated outside Peru's foreign ministry in Lima on April 29, 2026, urging repatriation. The Russian embassy responded on April 30, claiming participation was voluntary, but reports indicate recruits were made to sign documents in Russian, had their documents confiscated, and were sent to the front after brief training. Most were former military and police personnel lured by promises of $2,600–4,000 monthly salaries and bonuses up to $20,000. This is part of a broader Russian effort to recruit foreign nationals from over 130 countries, including Kenya (over 1,000 recruits), Cuba (around 20,000), and the Philippines, to sustain its war effort in Ukraine. Recruits are often promised rear positions but are deployed in infantry assaults after minimal training, with wounded left on the battlefield. The European Parliament has classified such practices as human trafficking.

On August 10, 2026, a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet crashed in the Odesa region during a combat mission to destroy enemy air targets. The incident occurred during an air-to-air missile launch, causing the aircraft to catch fire and the pilot to lose control. The pilot successfully ejected and was evacuated to a medical facility. The cause of the crash is under investigation. This loss highlights the continued attrition of Ukraine's aging air fleet amid ongoing conflict.

Background: Iran summoned Ukraine's diplomat after a Ukrainian long-range strike hit an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, killing one sailor and wounding another. Today: New details reveal the victim was Nima Moradi, a 23-year-old Iranian sailor from Bandar Anzali on his maiden voyage aboard the Anna, which was carrying iron from Russia to Iran when struck on July 25. Another crew member was wounded. Moradi's father expressed grief on social media. The attack highlights the expanding geographic scope of the Ukraine conflict and rising tensions between Iran and Ukraine.

On August 10, 2026, Russian forces struck Sumy, Ukraine, with guided aerial bombs for the second time in less than 12 hours, injuring two people, one of whom was hospitalized with minor injuries. The attacks significantly damaged private homes, civilian infrastructure, and vehicles in a residential area on the city's outskirts, with a fire at one location extinguished by rescuers. Earlier that night, five glide bombs had injured 14 people. This continues the pattern of Russian aerial bombardments on civilian areas in Sumy.

The article details the systemic crisis facing Ukrainian children due to Russia's invasion, including mass abductions, forced reeducation, and widespread trauma. Charities like Save Ukraine, Children of Heroes, and Ridni Foundation are working to rescue kidnapped children and support orphans and those who lost parents. The piece emphasizes the long-term demographic and psychological impact on Ukraine's youth, with nearly 26,000 children in institutional care, most of whom have at least one living parent.

Background: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy dismissed Defense Minister Fedorov on July 15-16 after a conflict with Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi, sparking nationwide protests. On July 21-22, Zelenskyy appointed Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new commander-in-chief. Fedorov has rejected alternative posts, insisting on reinstatement as defense minister, and protests continue. In a new development, the cardboard-sign protests have continued for over three weeks, now daily but smaller, with demands broadening to 'dialogue and reforms' in the defense sector. Protesters emphasize the authenticity of handwritten signs as a form of personal agency, countering Russian disinformation. Analysts warn of risks if military leadership changes are driven by street pressure, while Fedorov declines to lead the movement. As of mid-August 2026, the protests continue daily in cities including Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and others, though smaller than their July peak. The movement has broadened its demands to include 'dialogue and reforms' in the defense sector. Protesters emphasize the handwritten, individual nature of their signs as a marker of personal agency, countering Russian disinformation claims that participants are paid. Analysts note the protests reflect a societal push for democratic accountability amid martial law, but warn of risks if military leadership changes are driven by street pressure rather than professional assessments. Fedorov has declined to lead the protests or accept alternative posts, stating he will not be 'artificially dragged' into politics. Military ombudsperson Olha Reshetylova notes divided opinions within the military, with some supporting the protests and others viewing them as inappropriate during wartime. On August 16, several thousand protesters marched in central Kyiv from European Square through Independence Square to Franko Square near the Presidential Office, demanding Fedorov's reinstatement and chanting slogans such as 'Corruption kills' and 'Listening to the people – that's powerful.' The protest was peaceful and included a minute of silence for war dead. President Zelensky called the protests an expression of democracy. Fedorov has declined to lead the protests, stating he will not enter opposition until the war ends. Parliament is scheduled to vote on a new defense minister on August 18, with General Yevhen Khmara serving as acting minister since July 20.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin warned that Moscow would regard any armed provocations by Ukraine or Moldova against Transnistria as an attack on Russia and would use all available means to protect Russian citizens and peacekeepers in the breakaway region. While assessing current risks as low, he said Moscow is ready for any development. The warning follows Moldova's recall of its ambassador from Moscow after a drone incident near the Ukrainian border, and amid ongoing tensions over Russian diplomatic presence in Moldova.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss next steps under the bilateral Drone Deal, which follows the March defense cooperation agreement and the August Mecca Agreement among Pakistan, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia. The leaders coordinated positions on food security, and the Crown Prince briefed Zelensky on Saudi agreements with Türkiye and Pakistan. Separately, Zelensky announced military leadership changes with new Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, focusing on Donetsk and long-range strikes against Russia.

Ukraine's annual consumer inflation accelerated to 7.7% in July, up from 7.2% in June, while core inflation held at 8.1%. The acceleration was driven by sharp increases in state-regulated tariffs for water and sewerage, as well as rising transport costs linked to the Middle East conflict and Russian strikes on the Black Sea corridor. Monthly inflation rose 0.3%, with water supply tariffs surging 31.9% and sewerage 29.8%. Fuel prices rose 28% year-on-year (slightly decelerating from June's 33%), and transportation services accelerated to 28.9% annually. Road passenger transport rose 6% month-on-month, and railway passenger transport rose 2.8% monthly. Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices fell 0.2% monthly but accelerated to 6.5% annually. Eggs dropped 6.0% monthly, while fruit jumped 1.5%. Alcohol and tobacco rose 1.5% monthly, with tobacco up 23.6% annually. The National Bank of Ukraine warned that inflation may stay above its 5% target for an extended period, reflecting persistent logistics and tariff pressures.

Ukraine's newly appointed Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi chaired a meeting of the Energy Headquarters on August 10 to review preparations for the upcoming winter, as Russia is expected to intensify strikes on energy infrastructure. The meeting included reports from key energy companies such as Naftogaz, Ukrenergo, Energoatom, and DTEK, and focused on forecasted electricity and gas balances under various scenarios, protection of critical infrastructure, and building reserve stockpiles of fuel and equipment. The government also identified priority areas for urgent work, with the Ministry of Energy coordinating implementation. This comes amid warnings that Russia may shift its winter campaign toward targeting water infrastructure, and Ukraine continues to rely on foreign partners for Patriot interceptors.

Background: In May 2026, satellite imagery revealed that Russian Borei-class nuclear submarines at the Rybachiy base in Kamchatka had been fitted with anti-drone netting, marking the first such extensive defenses on Russian submarines. Today's development: New imagery from August 4, 2026, shows the netting now covers more than half a dozen submarines at the base, up from two in May. The UK Ministry of Defence assesses this as a preventive measure against Ukraine's increased long-range drone strike capability, citing Operation Spider's Web in June 2025, when Ukraine launched drones from within Russia to strike air bases in the Arctic, Siberia, and the Far East. The base is located over 7,000 km from Ukraine, highlighting Russia's perceived vulnerability to drone attacks extending well beyond the immediate conflict zone.

A Russian missile and drone attack on August 5 caused an estimated $10.8 million in direct losses to Intertop, Ukraine's largest fashion and footwear retailer, destroying a warehouse holding hundreds of thousands of items including new autumn-winter stock. CEO Serhii Badritdinov said the company is working to replenish inventory and secure temporary storage, but some store openings may be postponed. The attack was part of a broader assault involving 28 missiles and 115 drones, which also hit other Ukrainian retailers and logistics companies.

Ukraine's National Guard has received its first domestically built radiation and chemical reconnaissance vehicle, based on the armored Tisa chassis and Toyota Land Cruiser 79 platform. The vehicle replaces the outdated Soviet UAZ-469RKhB and meets NATO STANAG 4569 protection standards, featuring modern detection instruments, automated data systems, satellite navigation, and filtration systems. This development underscores Ukraine's shift from Soviet legacy equipment to modern domestic designs, enhancing its capability to detect and respond to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats amid ongoing conflict with Russia.

The UN Security Council held an informal meeting initiated by Latvia, the UK, and Ukraine to address Russia's violations of international humanitarian law regarding Ukrainian prisoners of war and arbitrarily detained civilians. The meeting focused on systematic torture, cruel treatment, conflict-related sexual violence, executions of POWs, and Russia's recruitment of foreign fighters. Participants included Crimean Tatar activist Lenie Umerova, Ukrainian soldier Juan Alberto Leyva Garcia, legal expert Oleh Hushchyn, and filmmaker Sheida Kiran. The initiative aims to draw global attention and push for protective measures.

Background: Andriy Yermak, former head of the Presidential Office, was named a suspect in laundering UAH 460 million through the Dynasty luxury cottage complex in Kozyn, Kyiv region, as part of Operation Midas. He was detained on 14 May 2026 with bail set at UAH 140 million, which was paid, leading to his release with electronic monitoring and travel restrictions. On 10 August 2026, the High Anti-Corruption Court partially granted Yermak's request to expand his permitted travel area to several Ukrainian regions, citing his participation in a legal assistance project for military personnel, while keeping his electronic monitoring device in place. Prosecutors opposed the expansion, arguing existing restrictions did not hinder his project involvement. The court allowed travel within Kyiv, Kyiv region, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions without separate permission, while still requiring permission for other regions. The court rejected a request to remove his electronic monitoring device. Yermak's defense argued the expanded travel was needed for his participation in a legal assistance project for military personnel, but prosecutors noted he serves as manager rather than a lawyer. The court's decision followed receipt of similar letters from military unit commanders supporting Yermak's request.

Background: Russian forces struck four gas stations and a fire station in Poltava region on July 25 as part of a massive drone and missile barrage. In a subsequent attack, Russian Shahed drones destroyed all gas stations in the Opishnia community of Poltava region, leaving none repairable. Four houses were damaged, but no casualties were reported. Community head Mykola Riznyk warned of potential fuel shortages across the region and noted that the community had stockpiled fuel reserves for municipal services, which are now being used for generators and waste collection. The community is also continuing to build shelters and prepare alternative energy sources.

Background: Moldova has faced repeated airspace violations by Russian drones and missiles during the war in Ukraine, including a drone explosion near Lopatna on June 8. Today, during a heavy Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine's Odesa region, a drone crashed and exploded in the village of Crocmaz in southeastern Moldova, causing a fire that damaged several properties but no casualties. Preliminary analysis suggested it could be a 'missile-like drone.' President Maia Sandu condemned the incident as a direct consequence of Russia's war, stating that the risk to human life in the region is real and growing. Moldova's foreign ministry recalled its ambassador from Russia for consultations. Police are continuing to investigate the exact type and origin of the aircraft.

Ukraine has denied deliberately directing drones toward Bulgaria after an unidentified drone crashed near a gas pipeline compressor station in Bulgaria on 8 August. Ukrainian Ambassador Olesia Ilashchuk told Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova that Kyiv's forces never targeted Bulgaria or other partners, and expressed openness to cooperate in the investigation. Bulgaria summoned the ambassador, demanded information and preventive measures, and stressed that any airspace incursion is unacceptable. The incident, which occurred near the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline, has raised regional security concerns, with Bulgaria coordinating with Romania and NATO allies.

A film crew from Ukrainian TV channel STB was attacked by Russian drones in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The journalists and military personnel escaped their pickup truck before a drone struck the empty vehicle, which caught fire. Five people—two media workers and three military personnel—took cover in a sunflower field. The crew used a Chuyka portable drone detector to spot the threat.

Background: Ukraine is accelerating development of its own ballistic missiles and the European FREYJA anti-ballistic defense system, with President Zelenskyy confirming that Fire Point's FP7 ballistic missile could see combat deployment this autumn and the FP7.X interceptor variant targeting first interception tests by mid-2027. Today: Fire Point Director Denys Shtilerman announced that the Freyja interceptor's first full-scale launch is planned for mid-2027, with the first integration cluster completed. The project faces a complex stage of unifying components and subsystems, followed by full-cycle testing. President Zelensky gave a broader timeline of 12 months to several years for a domestically manufactured PAC-3 equivalent. The development comes amid US reluctance to license PAC-3 production, with Trump expressing concerns about technology transfer and US arms executives worried about reverse-engineering. Russia continues to launch ballistic missiles with low interception rates, with 195 launched in July (29 intercepted) and 51 in the first week of August (none intercepted). Russian production of Iskander-M is about 65 per month, with stocks of 400 S-400, 130 Iskander-M, and 100 KN-24 missiles. Future attacks likely target Ukrainian defense industry, railways, ports, shipping, logistics, and energy infrastructure.

Background: Ukrainian President Zelensky has been consolidating new military and government leadership, including the appointment of Mykhailo Drapatyi as Commander-in-Chief and updates to the National Security and Defense Council. Today, Zelensky announced further personnel changes in the military leadership after a meeting with top commanders, with some decisions finalized and more to come. The discussions focused on reinforcing key sectors in Donetsk, long-range strikes against Russia, and air defense needs for frontline towns and the capital. In the latest development, Zelensky met with Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, Chief of the General Staff Ihor Skybiuk, and acting Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara, during which some decisions were finalized and more are expected. The meeting addressed the front-line situation, reinforcement of key sectors in Donetsk, long-range strikes against Russia, and air defense needs for frontline towns and the capital. Zelensky expressed gratitude to units defending positions in Slovyansk, Kostiantynivka, and Dobropillia, and noted adjustments to some operations and approval of new ones.

The Come Back Alive Foundation's Dronopad project has downed over 53,000 Russian drones since August 2024, inflicting an estimated $1.39 billion in losses on Russia. The initiative, which supplies interceptor drones and equipment to over 90 Ukrainian units, has scaled from experimental to widespread deployment along the contact line and state border. In June 2026 alone, Dronopad crews intercepted more than 21% of drones crossing Ukraine's border. The foundation now prioritizes countering faster jet-powered strike drones, with partners including OKKO and state agencies.

Background: Russia's territorial gains in Ukraine have slowed to their worst since 2023, with drone saturation and communication failures hindering advances, and the Russian army lost more territory than it gained in April and May 2026 for the first time since August 2024. New development: In July 2026, Russian territorial gains fell to just 27 square kilometers, down from 445 in December 2025 and 160 in April, with a comparable Russian project recording 112 square kilometers in June. Russian losses remained high at about 32,800 per month according to the General Staff, raising the cost per square kilometer to 290—3.5 times the 2025 rate. CIA Director John Ratcliffe attributed the slowdown to Ukraine's drone advantage, noting Russian recruits' average frontline lifespan is 20-30 minutes. A Ukrainian drone operator described the collapse in Russian troop training, with infiltration groups of two to six fighters covering 15-20 kilometers on foot and only one in 15 surviving. President Zelenskyy stated Putin is preparing a new mobilization wave of 300,000-500,000 after September Duma elections, and the State Duma passed a law expanding the pool of people with criminal records who may sign military contracts during mobilization.

Military analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko reports that Iran has upgraded its Shahed-107 kamikaze drones based on combat experience in Ukraine, adding fragmentation elements to warheads and improving aerodynamics. Additionally, Iran's new Karar loitering munition, with a 300-kilometer range and 15-kilogram warhead, has begun appearing over Ukraine, posing a threat to rear areas. These weapons are supplied to Russia and used against Ukraine, with Ukraine serving as a testing ground for Iranian drone improvements.

Background: Since mid-July, Russian attacks have crippled Ukraine's Black Sea grain corridor, forcing reliance on alternative routes. Today: On August 9, Russian forces struck the Mayaki bridge on the M-15 highway, severing a key land corridor linking southern Ukraine to Moldova and Romania. The bridge crosses the Dniester River and feeds Danube ports, which have become Ukraine's main export outlet. The Institute for the Study of War assessed that Russia is shifting strikes from sea to land corridors to block grain exports and weaken Ukraine's economy. Conflicting reports emerged on the bridge's status, with some claiming destruction and others showing it still standing; Ukraine's State Border Guard Service confirmed temporary traffic restrictions. This strike follows a previous attack on the same bridge in December 2025. Meanwhile, Türkiye proposed a moratorium on strikes against merchant ships in the Black Sea, awaiting responses from Moscow and Kyiv.

The National Bank of Ukraine adopted resolutions No. 88 and No. 89 on August 7, allowing banks to restructure short-term debt for war-affected borrowers without booking a default, and increasing the collateral value of agricultural produce from 40% to 75% to enable farmers to borrow more. The changes, effective August 8, aim to support borrowers amid Russia's escalating port strikes that have disrupted grain exports. Banks have until September 30 to update internal documents and until December 1 to complete first credit risk calculations under the revised methodology.

Background: Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently rejected ceasefire proposals, demanding cession of Donbas and dismissing advisers who suggested a frontline freeze. New development: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin reiterated that Moscow will not agree to a freeze in the war against Ukraine unless the conflict's root causes are addressed, echoing Putin's stance. He accused President Zelensky of escalating the conflict and labeled Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure and CPC facilities as terrorist acts, urging the international community to respond. Galuzin criticized continued US military and intelligence support for Ukraine as contradictory, referencing Secretary of State Marco Rubio's admission that Washington is not an impartial mediator. Despite rejecting a freeze, Moscow claims openness to diplomacy, citing the Anchorage understandings. Other officials, including envoy Rodion Miroshnik, suggest the war will continue for a long time, and Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterated refusal to halt along current front lines as a precondition for talks.

Background: Russian attacks have destroyed over 1.1 million textbooks, including a fire at Ranok's Kharkiv warehouse and damage to a Kyiv printing house. Today: The Verkhovna Rada reported that Russian attacks have destroyed nearly 1.2 million textbooks for the 2026-2027 school year, with the largest losses in Year 9 and Year 4 print runs. The government is working to reprint priority textbooks and improve logistics to ensure delivery by September 1. The Verkhovna Rada, citing Serhii Babak, Chairman of the Committee on Education, Science and Innovation, reported that 1,166,874 textbooks have been destroyed, accounting for 8.6% of the total print run for the 2026-2027 academic year. Losses include over 850,000 copies for Year 9 (9.5% of that print run), over 271,000 for Year 4 (7%), and nearly 45,000 for Years 6 and 7 (6%). Affected publishers include Ranok, Hramota, Lingvist, Akademiia, Osvita, Litera, Aston, and Shkoliar. The government is seeking additional printing capacity and safer storage to ensure textbooks are available by September 1.