Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1315: Ukraine tightens military pressure while allies navigate energy dependencies and emerging threats

Exclusives

How Moldova neutralized Russian election interference—one coordinator at a time. Despite Moscow’s disinformation and proxy protests, PAS wins big, handing Sandu a renewed mandate for Moldova’s European path.

Near Pokrovsk, Ukraine discovers chaos favors the bigger army. Every attack exposes flanks to counterattack, and Russia has more troops for the chaos

Military

Frontline report: Ukrainian forces tighten noose around Russian pockets near Pokrovsk - Day and night, Ukrainian FPV drones hunt Russian soldiers attempting to slip through Novotoretske's ruins Russia fired 50,000 Shaheds at Ukraine since 2022 - Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office will soon name specific Russian military personnel responsible for ordering drone strikes Four North Korean Koksan howitzers destroyed by Ukrainian drones in Zaporizhzhia and Luhansk oblasts (video) - Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces confirmed the strike on Russian-operated artillery supplied by North Korea Frontline report: Ukraine's refinery strikes trigger nationwide fuel collapse across Russia - Ukraine's sustained drone campaign has triggered a nationwide fuel collapse affecting at least ten regions Ukraine says it struck Russia's prized S-400 radar in Crimea — with drones the system was meant to detect - Kyiv's special forces claim their attack blinded one of Russia's most sophisticated air defense setups Ukrainian Achilles drones turn Russia's prized TOS-1A thermobaric launchers into wreckage on Kupiansk front - These costly systems were used to pound Ukrainian towns and defense lines

Intelligence and Technology

Romania seeks Ukraine drone partnership after Russian airspace violations - The partnership builds on Ukraine's transformation from importer to drone warfare powerhouse Russia's sabotage teams may hit Ukraine's closest ally soon as "blame Kyiv" script has already been activated - Special units from Russia and Belarus are reportedly preparing to infiltrate Polish territory Poland keeps footing the bill for Starlink in Ukraine after passing new law - Hospitals, schools, and frontline areas remain connected through Polish-supported units Ukrainian intelligence kills Rosgvardia commander and two others in Russia's Stavropol Oblast - Ukraine's military intelligence killed a Rosgvardia lieutenant colonel commanding the "Avangard" special unit Von der Leyen announces $2.3 billion agreement with Ukraine for drones - Ukraine will receive financial support for unmanned aerial vehicles

International

Kremlin hints at ambitions beyond occupied regions, saying people in Ukraine's southern regions want to "link their fate to Russia" - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "many" people in Ukraine's Odesa and Mykolaiv regions secretly want ties with Russia France moves on Russia's shadow fleet: Sanctioned tanker caught off Saint-Nazaire with murky cargo past - The Benin-flagged vessel faces a fresh investigation by French prosecutors Russia extends ban on gasoline exports amid Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries - Fuel shortages are spreading into Russia's central regions Since 2022, four EU countries spent more on Russian LNG purchases than on supporting Ukraine – Greenpeace - Russian LNG imports to the EU climbed 11% in 2024 compared to 2023 Top euro banker flips Lagarde's warning, says euro safer if Ukraine wins - ECB central banker breaks ranks, saying the euro faces a bigger risk from Russian victory than asset seizure US Ambassador to NATO: New sanctions ineffective while Hungary, Slovakia buy 100% of energy from Russia - President Donald Trump will not authorize additional sanctions on Russia until European allies stop purchasing Russian oil and gas Ukraine to launch weapons exports to US, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Zelenskyy says - Weapons systems Ukraine currently produces in surplus will be sold across four continents Denmark secretly mobilizes reservists over drone activity in national airspace, Danish media reports - Denmark has quietly activated its reserve force as mystery drones continue appearing Russia to spend $183 billion on defense and security in 2026 - Russia plans to reduce defense spending by $2.4 billion in 2026 Russia's own forecast shows oil output collapsing by 2030 - Moscow's economic projections reveal that the energy sector can't recover without Western technology Netherlands, Nordics lead $1 billion monthly push to arm Ukraine with US weapons via PURL - Ukraine has received financing for four weapons packages totaling over $2 billion

Humanitarian and Social Impact

Ukrainian intelligence extracts 57 people from Gaza Strip. Among the evacuees are 16 children - The group includes 48 Ukrainian citizens, 9 Palestinians, and 16 children extracted from an active combat zone "No terrorist has done this to a nuclear plant": Zelenskyy warns world as ZNPP blackout hits record length - The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant entered its seventh consecutive day without external electricity Russian drone strike on Dnipro kills one, injures dozens - A Russian drone strike killed and injured civilians, including children, damaging residential and cultural buildings Ukrainian expedition begins exhuming bodies of UPA soldiers in Poland 77 years after battle - For the first time, Poland has authorized Ukrainian specialists to excavate suspected graves on its territory Read our previous daily review here.