Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1641: Russia strikes Kyiv by ballistic missiles ahead of Independence Day

Exclusives

Ukrainians rally across dozens of countries to demand Europe use Russia's frozen billions. The EU backed a €90 billion Ukraine loan with its budget while €210 billion in Russian central bank assets remain immobilized.

Ukraine finally hit three Russian Kalibr ships on 12 August. On the 19th, an untouched one hit Kyiv. Prior to 12 August, the Russian Black Sea Fleet had eight warships capable of firing Kalibr cruise missiles. It still has at least five.

Military

Evacuation is "force majeure that no one is ready for" in most Ukrainian units, and robots are too slow to fix it, commander says. Chornovol says casualty evacuation remains improvised chaos in most Ukrainian units, calling for dedicated evacuation teams and light-armored transport.

Ukrainian intelligence units will not help: Analyst warns that once Russia breaks into Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, reinforcing them only delays inevitable. Russian forces are 12 to 13 km from Sloviansk and Kramatorsk and could begin infiltrating the fortress-belt cities by late 2026.

Ukrainian drones hit warehouse belonging to Russian online retailer Ozon for the first time. Ozon suspended operations at the Chapayevsk hub and began redirecting deliveries and orders through other facilities.

Ukraine says its drones hit major Russian refinery amid deepening fuel shortages. Militarnyi describes the target as one of Russia's 10 largest refineries. Damage or interruption to production remains unconfirmed.

Ukrainian drone unit seriously wounded Colonel Dmitry Shabaev, commander of Russia's 64th brigade, tied to 2022 Bucha atrocities that killed 637 civilians. The strike hit 80 km behind the front line.

Intelligence and technology

One pilot, five bombers: Ukraine's Lasar's Group ties whole raid to single operator to save manpower. Facing a manpower shortage, Ukraine is building autonomy into its drones and ground robots so one operator can run several at once.

Four times pixels of anything before it: Ukrainian firm's rare thermal camera aims to see targets from much farther away. Ukrainian company Oko Camera is developing the Oko HD thermal camera.

Intelligence: Putin ordered secret biolab built on island, so protected that fishing is banned, and its own guards fear infection. Ukraine's military intelligence says Russia runs a secret biolab complex in Tver Oblast, an inversion of Russia's own false claims about Ukraine.

Ukraine is buying jam-proof fiber-optic drones for first time to single standard, so any maker can compete. Ukraine's Defense Procurement Agency launched its first buy of fiber-optic FPV kamikaze drones to Defense Ministry-defined specifications.

Ukraine has shown its answer to Russia's most powerful drones for first time. Meet Alexa Spatium, which can carry thermobaric warheads and fly back home. Ukraine codified its first jet-powered interceptor drone, the Alexa Spatium, built to destroy Russia's jet Geran drones.

Russia's North Korean missiles could threaten Kyiv and six other regions, ISW says. Moscow is expected to keep saving ballistic and cruise missiles for periodic mass attacks designed to overwhelm Ukraine's air defenses.

Ukraine is fielding more drone-hunters than ever. Free simulator now lets operators learn each one before it reaches their hands. Two Ukrainian interceptor drones, the P1-SUN and Bullet, were integrated into the UFDS combat simulator.

Humanitarian and social impact

Russia has burned 13 million Ukrainian books in three months, nearly third of everything country printed in 2025. Publishers have asked President Zelenskyy to convene the National Security Council.

Russia struck Kyiv and Boryspil, its main airport hub, twice in 24 hours with ballistics Ukraine can't stop without US Patriots, days before Independence Day.

Political and legal developments

"Only Ukrainians will decide for themselves who our heroes are," says Zelenskyy at International Veterans Forum with US envoy, as number of veterans passes two million. Zelenskyy said Ukraine will create a national pantheon for those who shaped its identity.

New developments

From Warsaw to New York, Ukrainians will form human chains on Independence Day. Communities scattered by Russia's invasion will revive a symbol from Ukraine's independence movement to keep the country visible abroad.