Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1275: Ukrainian suspect arrested in Italy for Nord Stream case, while Ukraine readies 3,000km range missiles for mass production

Exclusives

Sweden sends Ukraine billions in military aid—and every armored vehicle. Gripen jets? Ask NATO. Stockholm sent tanks, drones, and even its full fleet of armored carriers—everything but the jets Ukraine wanted most.

How did Russians sneak into Kupiansk—and run right into a Ukrainian tank?. Russians slipped deep into Kupiansk, and ran right into an alert Ukrainian tank. It's not good news for Ukraine.

Military

Ukrainian General Staff confirms refinery strike in Rostov, reports new attacks on drone hub in Donetsk and fuel site in Voronezh. The military's announcement expands the known scope of the 21 August attacks. Ukraine's commandos struck a moving Russian fuel train in occupied Crimea. Kyiv's elite troops continue sabotaging Russia's critical supply chains on occupied soil. Ukraine strikes another Russian refinery, railway substation, and GRU base in occupied Crimea (video). Occupation authorities in Sevastopol attempted to mask the attack as emergency exercises, drawing public skepticism. Ukraine releases footage of drone strike on seasoned Russian general with war crime charges. He lost arm and leg. While Ukraine filed charges against Abatchev, documenting his participation in combat operations across multiple Luhansk Oblast settlements, Russia awarded him "Hero" titles. Russia seeks entire Donbas in exchange for ceasefire promises, Zelenskyy says it would take them four years to occupy it. Zelenskyy stressed that Russian forces have only managed to seize about one-third of Donetsk Oblast since the full-scale invasion began.

Intelligence and technology

Ukraine to start mass production of 3,000 km Flamingo missile, Zelenskyy says. The long-range weapon has already completed tests and could enter large-scale manufacturing by early 2026.

International

Militarnyi: Russian drone stayed in Polish airspace for 2.5 hours and was never intercepted. Airspace monitoring suggests it crossed 200 km from Ukraine to a village just 40 km from Warsaw. After howitzers and a helicopter, Czech campaign now raising funds for five training aircraft for Ukraine. The Gift for Putin campaign has previously crowdfunded D-30 howitzers, a Black Hawk helicopter, anti-tank rocket launchers, explosives and other equipment and matériel for Ukraine. Trump blames Biden's policy that allowed Ukraine only to defend itself and not fight back properly. The US president used a sports analogy of banning offensive plays to criticize Biden's restrictions of strikes with American weapons, arguing that defensive capabilities alone cannot achieve victory. Norway creates second brigade in Arctic to monitor border with Russia. Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik called the new Finnmark Brigade "a necessary response to a more uncertain security situation" along the Russian border Frontline report: Azerbaijan and Armenia were bitter enemies—until Russia made them allies. Once at war over Nagorno-Karabakh, the two states now back a US-brokered corridor plan that sidelines Russia.

Humanitarian and social impact

Russian attack on Sumy university burnt 15,000 books — third strike since 2022. The previous attack in April destroyed 45,000 volumes in the university's congress center and killed 35 people. Massive Russian air attack hits Ukraine with 574 drones and 40 missiles, including city near Hungarian border. Kalibr missiles struck an American factory in Mukachevo while other strikes hit residential blocks in Lviv and targeted several more cities.

Political and legal developments

Russia awards Order of Courage to American killed fighting against Ukraine. His mom is CIA official.. The 21-year-old son of CIA deputy director had grown increasingly angry with American policies, moved to Russia, and signed a military contract in 2023. He died in 2024 near Bakhmut. SBU: Ukraine arrests Russian spy inside marine brigade on active front. He directed strikes on Ukrainian bases. The accused commander leaked geolocations of his own unit to help Russian forces correct their targeting, while simultaneously attempting to recruit other Ukrainian soldiers for Moscow's intelligence network. Italy arrests Ukrainian suspect in Nord Stream pipeline bombing case. Serhij K.'s arrest in Italy represents a breakthrough in Germany's two-year investigation into the Nord Stream bombings Ukraine clears path to sell Sense Bank, Ukrgasbank in first wartime privatizations. Ukraine has finally decided to sell off some state banks, showing reform is advancing even as war grinds on. Read our earlier daily review here.