Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1243: Russia flaunts giant Shahed factory—but Ukraine may crack drone defense on the cheap  

Exclusive

Ukraine just solved the hardest math problem in modern air defense – with a 1970s German gun. The German-made Gepard gun vehicle is one of Ukraine's best defenses against swarms of Russian Shahed drones.

Everyone's talking about Usyk's knockout—but did you know he can hold his breath longer than dolphins?. While you were watching Usyk flatten Dubois, you probably missed the wildest fact about boxing's new favorite champion.

Italy's giving a concert for Putin—and Europe is paying. Banned everywhere else, Putin's favorite conductor Gergiev finds European taxpayers willing to fund his comeback in Campania

Hackers erased Gazprom's digital brain in catastrophic cyber strike, HUR source says. Ukrainian operatives reportedly wiped servers, clouds, and backups, crippling the control systems of Russia's gas empire.

Ukraine's war cabinet was hit by a perfect storm. Zelenskyy just hit reset. Ukraine just overhauled its government for the first time since Russia invaded. No one voted.

Military

Frontline report: Russia sent troops through a quiet sector near Kharkiv — Ukraine sent a T-64 to greet them. With its summer offensive stalled, Russia pushed near Kharkiv—and ran straight into a Ukrainian tank. Russian follow up strikes delay Ukrainian rescuers who rush to put out fire after deadly drone attack. A 78-year-old woman died in Sumy Oblast near the front line and multiple families sustained injuries from direct strikes on residential buildings. Moscow suffers largest drone attack in months, with drone debris hitting residential building. The attack also forced the diversion of 134 commercial flights to alternative airports.

Intelligence and technology

Russia shows off giant Shahed factory and US trucks used to launch drone strikes on Ukraine. Kremlin footage shows rows of Shahed drones in production and American pickups launching them toward Ukraine, as Moscow ramps up long-range attacks. Pentagon opens drone combat school in Indiana: "If your stuff's not in Ukraine, it's not serious". The Pentagon's new drone school launches next month, with Ukrainian military advisors set to observe and give feedback. Forbes: Tiny Ukrainian drone boat Ursula targets hidden Russian sites no weapon has reached before. Ursula is just one meter long, but it can slip into Russia's shallow rivers and swamps to launch drones deep behind enemy lines. US envoy sees how Russia bypasses sanctions and uses Western components in weapons that kill Ukrainians. Ukrainian intelligence organized an exhibition of Western-manufactured electronics found in captured Russian weaponry used against civilian targets across Ukraine. German general warns Ukraine faces Russian drone increase from 500 to 2,000 nightly while Kyiv develops special drone interceptors. Major General Christian Freuding emphasized the economic mismatch between $5 million Patriot missiles and Russia's $50,000 drones, advocating for preemptive action and industry-developed interception technologies.

International

Azerbaijan demands Russia admit guilt in downing passenger jet with air defense as Moscow stonewalls investigation. President Ilham Aliyev announced the move to international courts after Azerbaijan rejected Russian explanations blaming Ukrainian drones for the incident.

New developments

Usyk defeats Dubois with "Ivan" punch to reclaim undisputed heavyweight crown for Ukraine. Minutes after knocking out Daniel Dubois at Wembley, Oleksandr Usyk thanked the Ukrainian soldiers who "allow me to be here now." Read our earlier daily review here.