Exclusives

This American-made missile is Ukraine’s cheap refinery smasher. Ukraine needs harder-hitting deep-strike munitions. Lots of them. The American ERAM might be just the thing.

Military

Massive Russian missile attack on Kyiv: 21 killed, 63 injured. 2-year-old among three children killed as residential buildings destroyed across the capital city.

Russia uses new jet-powered Shahed drones in Kyiv attack, killing 18 people. Russian forces deployed rocket-propelled Shahed drones in the Kyiv assault, reaching 300-500 km/h and proving harder to intercept than standard models.

Russia’s main oil terminal to lose 50% of exports due to Ukrainian drone attacks. Industry sources confirm Russia’s Ust-Luga oil terminal will process 350,000 barrels daily in September following Ukrainian attacks on pipeline infrastructure

Frontline report: Ukraine blew up Russia’s only nitrocellulose plant—no backup for gunpowder supply. A Ukrainian drone strike destroyed the Kotovsky plant in Tambov, Russia’s sole source of nitrocellulose powders for shells and rockets.

HUR drone strike damages Russian warship carrying cruise missiles in Azov Sea. The Main Intelligence Directorate reported successful hits on a Russian missile carrier that serves as a platform for Russia’s Kalibr cruise missile system in Azov Sea waters.

Intelligence and technology

Russia strikes Bayraktar drone factory in Kyiv for fourth time in six months. A nearly-complete Turkish drone factory in Kyiv sustained serious damage in its fourth Russian attack since February, threatening millions in investment and months of personnel training just weeks before planned production launch.

Ukraine’s defense tech leader challenges western strategic assumptions. FPV drones kill up to 70% of Ukrainian troops, yet NATO armies plan readiness for 2031.

International

46% of Americans believe that the US does not help Ukraine enough – poll. 52% of Americans believe Washington should help Ukraine reclaim occupied territories even if it extends the war, while 45% prefer a quick resolution that might require territorial concessions,

Zelenskyy: Ukraine security guarantee framework ready next week. Türkiye offers involvement in Black Sea security following deadliest Russian attack in weeks targeting diplomatic facilities from multiple countries.

Kellogg: Russia’s brutal attack threatens Trump peace plans. Donald Trump’s special envoy called Russia’s attack on Kyiv the second-largest since the invasion began, warning it threatens the president’s peace initiatives.

China hosts 26 world leaders for WWII anniversary as Xi, Putin, Kim unite in rare gathering. The Serbian President and Slovak Prime Minister will be the only representatives from the EU countries as they were at Russia’s Victory Day parade in May.

Hungary bans Ukrainian commander over Russian pipeline hit — latest sign of Budapest acting as Kremlin’s proxy in EU. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó claimed recent Ukrainian strikes on the Druzhba pipeline allegedly harmed Hungary and Slovakia more than Russia.

60% of Poles support presidential veto on Ukrainian assistance – poll. Three in five Polish adults back President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of legislation extending aid to Ukrainian citizens, with strongest support coming from younger adults

Humanitarian and social impact

Estonian special forces veteran dies fighting as volunteer in Ukraine. Olev Roost, a former member of Estonia’s Special Operations Forces who served in Mali, died fighting with Ukraine’s elite 3rd Separate Special Purpose Regiment after voluntarily joining the war in 2023.

Kharkiv opens 7 underground schools, converts metro stations into classrooms for 6,000 students. Kharkiv is among first countries to extensively use metro stations as schools during wartime, creating unique model of underground education to protect children from constant Russian attack

Russian strike hits EU and UK diplomatic buildings in Kyiv night attack. Belgium’s FM confirmed damage to EU and British Council buildings in Kyiv, saying Russia “chooses terror, destruction and lies instead of dialogue” after the overnight attack killed 13 people in the Ukrainian capital.

Political and legal developments

US extends authorization to import some diamonds of Russian origin despite sanctions. Nearly 3 years after G7 nations restricted Russian diamond trade, the Office of Foreign Assets Control has extended US import permissions for specific Russian gems through September 2026.

Read our earlier daily review here.