Exclusives
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Ukraine has five ways to stop Russia’s Iskanders. Only one arrives before the strikes on the grid begin. It means finding a launcher in a forest during the twenty minutes it spends above ground. |
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A rare Ukrainian Bulat tank turned up in a brigade that never had them. Ukraine wanted 400 of the up-armored T-64s and built about 80. Nobody can say how the 57th Motorized Brigade got one. |
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Russia drove most ships from Ukraine’s ports. Now its drones are hunting the trains. By late August, Ukraine had exported only a third of its normal volume of farm goods. Russia damaged more than 250 locomotives in six months. |
Military
Ukraine is testing four new drone interceptors as Russia floods its skies with faster Gerans. Kyiv is racing to scale new defences after Russia used more than 2,500 jet-powered drones in August alone.
Ukraine strikes Russia's second-largest oil refinery again in major overnight attack, also hitting airfield and drone launch site. The refinery has been targeted repeatedly during the full-scale war as Ukraine strikes infrastructure supporting Russia's military and economy.
Four days of Russian attacks keep Kyiv under near-constant fire. Ukraine is struggling to defend its skies. Russia has launched nearly 2,000 attack drones, more than 1,600 guided bombs and 31 missiles against Ukraine this week, while Kyiv faces repeated strikes and a shortage of critical air defence interceptors.
Ukrainian ground-robot maker has moved into air: Ratel's first strike drone flies 30 kilometres on Starlink link. The Ratel K1 carries two kilograms, the maker says.
"We have surprises for our neighbors": Ukraine's aviation commander says new aircraft developments are essentially finished and already in testing. Ukraine has already rebuilt what it flies. Its crews turned the 1970s-era Su-24 bomber into a launcher for SCALP cruise missiles.
Russia launches third attack on Ukraine's largest Danube port this month, during peak of wheat harvest. Five trucks loaded with grain were destroyed and three more damaged in the Izmail district.
Ukraine chooses three Western fighters to build its air force around. One of them can fly again from stretch of road in 15 to 20 minutes. The Air Force settled on them after weighing cost, logistics, and repair speed.
Fix for Ukraine's interceptors is radar seeker head, and American firm is selling one for $4,000, says president's tech adviser. Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov says cloud and fog collapse interceptor hit rates, and a seeker head is the way out.
Four ground robots for one evacuation: Russia is targeting Ukraine's robotic medevac missions. Ground robots are helping evacuate wounded troops from exposed positions, but the systems themselves have come under intense Russian fire.
Ukrainian robot commander calls ground robots "Persian elephants." What army really needs are "Arabian steeds," he says. A "Khartia" robot commander says FPV drones and mines have collapsed the machines' lifespan.
Russia destroyed last of Kherson's heat and power equipment on 26 August. Ukraine's new defence minister arrived days later. Yevhenii Khmara met the regional governor days after glide bombs wrecked the city's power plant.
Ukraine has built twin-Kalashnikov turret for cheap ground robots. Security Service has already used one to destroy Russian ambushes. A Brave1 turret carries two AKs and went from idea to prototype in under six months.
Ukraine struck Tu-95 at base Russia launches its cruise missiles on Ukraine's civilians. Satellite image shows third of right wing gone. SBU Alpha struck the strategic bomber at Engels-2.
Kyiv has been under attack for 2 days nonstop. Russia is targeting the capital's civilian supply chains. Russian jet-powered drones have repeatedly struck warehouses, businesses and logistics facilities around the capital, disrupting supplies while rescuers work under threat of further attacks.
Intelligence and technology
Ukraine's intelligence: Russia is running its Nepal, Cuba, Kenya, and India recruitment scheme in Indonesia now. Ukraine's foreign intelligence says it holds documents on at least eight recruited Indonesian citizens.
Partisans say Russian recruiters in occupied Donetsk are taking drunk men from bars straight to enlistment offices. An ATESH agent inside the Dnepr grouping headquarters reports a new scheme.
Russians bought $300 million in body armor, thermal sights, and drone parts on Ozon marketplace Ukraine is bombing. Russians bought 157,700 body armour vests there.
International
After CIA head's visit to Moscow, Poland's PM warns Russia is preparing to escalate war. He puts critical window at seven or eight months. Poland's prime minister says there are signals of serious Russian preparation.
Ukraine dismissed its defence minister in July. He is now advising NATO country on defence innovation. Guido Crozetto called the dismissed Ukrainian minister the day after Kyiv let him go.
From the Gripen sale to coast guard boats: Sweden sends 10 vessels to Ukraine. Ukraine's emergency service will use the boats for waterborne rescue work, including clearing mines from river beds. Stockholm's contributions to the US-led PURL programme now total $552 million.
Humanitarian and social impact
Russia has burned millions of Ukrainian books, striking at the infrastructure of Ukrainian culture. More than 60,000 books were destroyed in a single warehouse strike near Kyiv this week, adding to losses that publishers say are becoming impossible to absorb.
Russia has destroyed 90% of Ukraine's modern commercial storage capacity. Retail logistics are being reshaped. Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotskyi says the country faces no threat of famine, but warns stores could see a narrower range of products.
Political and legal developments
What does Ukraine's new defence minister wear on his wrist? He did not mention it until reporter asked. Yevhenii Khmara's bracelet carries the names of fallen comrades, a US magazine reported.
"Territory that will allow us to export our energy resources to Europe": Russia's deputy Duma chairman calls for massed bombing of Ukrainian cities. Duma vice-speaker Pyotr Tolstoy said the aim is to demoralise civilians until they give up.
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