Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1256: NATO has launched new $10 billion funding mechanism for Ukraine

Exclusive

Forget steel: Ukraine's new tank armor is rubber and spikes. Steel once defined tank protection. Now, under constant drone attack, Russia bolts spikes onto its armor while Ukraine wraps vehicles in rubber—a complete rethink of how to survive on the battlefield.

PrivatBank finally beat its own billionaires—but only 2,100 km from Kyiv. It took London and eight years to bring to justice Ukraine's richest men who siphoned off 1.5% of its GDP

Military

Partisans: Russia's 247th Air Assault Regiment crumbles amid desertions in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Desperation grows as Russia treats locals like expendable pawns. "Stadium of death near Toretsk": Russia lost 50,000 troops but failed to break Ukrainian defenses. "Only battle kangaroos and penguins missing," says Ukrainian officer on the relentless fight. Central Asia gas route to Russia disrupted after Volgograd explosions. A major gas pipeline supplying Russian military plants was knocked offline by explosions in Volgograd Oblast, cutting supply to ammunition and aircraft manufacturers. Lithuanian military recovers mysterious drone 100km from Belarus border after five-day search. The drone that triggered Lithuania's air defense warnings on July 28 has been found at Gajžiūnai training ground, resembling a Russian decoy aircraft. SBU drones strike Shahed depot in Krasnodar used to launch attack drones against Ukraine. Ukraine launched simultaneous drone strikes on a Russian drone storage base in Krasnodar Oblast and a military factory in Penza - targets located 1,000 kilometers apart. Ukrainian drones spark massive fires at Russian oil refineries, force Samara airport and defense factories shotdown. Multiple Russian governors confirmed drone strikes on petroleum and defense facilities, with attacks spanning from Samara to Ryazan oblasts

Intelligence and Technology

Ukraine redirects $ 192 mn to drone units that eliminated 22,700 targets in one month. Six Ukrainian drone units that destroyed 22,700 Russian targets in July will receive over $190 mn in emergency funding Russia won't change after Putin, Ukraine's spy chief says. Russia's totalitarian system is built to outlive its leader, ensuring the war and threats to Europe won't end with Putin. US and NATO launch new $ 500 million tranche system to fast-track weapons deliveries to Ukraine. NATO countries will negotiate among themselves to fund American weapons for Ukraine under a new $10 billion mechanism that bypasses traditional arms sale procedures, Reuters reported

International

NATO unleashes new $10 billion "combat wallet" for Ukraine as Putin's increses attacks on civilians. The West scrambles to meet Ukraine's demands while the Kremlin eyes total capitulation. US, Russia may prepare for show of force as Trump raises stakes with nuclear submarines. The stakes skyrocket as diplomacy falters. "They broke all 10 rules": Ukraine calls to eject Russia from OSCE. Moscow blocks European security watchdog's operations to hide atrocities. Ukrainian foreign minister says 70% of Russia's shadow oil fleet passes under NATO's nose. As Warsaw assumes regional leadership, Ukraine calls for bold action on Kremlin oil tankers. Trump deploys nuclear submarines near Russia after Medvedev's threats. The United States repositioned nuclear submarines near Russia following escalating online threats between President Trump and a former Kremlin official over the war in Ukraine. Republican lawmaker to "friends in Russia": Trump "will not be trifled with" amid escalating nuclear tensions. Following President Trump's decision to deploy two nuclear submarines after Russian threats, Senator Lindsey Graham warned Russia it is "overplaying your hand" with Trump

Humanitarian and Social Impact

Tortured Ukrainian reporter Victoria Roshchyna honored with highest state award after death in Russian captivity. Roshchyna, who bore knife wounds and electrical torture scars before dying in Russian detention, received Ukraine's Order of Freedom posthumously from President Zelenskyy for her "civic courage." Ukrainian teenagers escape Russian "reeducation camps" and forced military conscription. Maria wore traditional Ukrainian vyshyvanka to Russian school and argued with teachers about Ukraine, resulting in classmates calling her "ukropka" and beating her while teachers threatened her mother with loss of parental rights. Read our earlier daily review here.