Ukraine updates in English

[US7IGN]

It was quiet in the sky today, but Ukraine was shaken by a political storm.

Ukraine's ex-defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for wartime elections, in what is widely seen as the biggest challenge to Volodymyr Zelensky's presidency since russia's full-scale invasion four and a half years ago. "Democracy cannot be held hostage by russia," said Fedorov, 35, in a video posted to YouTube, adding that Ukraine is fighting "precisely because we want to remain a free European state". https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdew8n9erlwo

On the day when the constitutional powers of the President of Ukraine Zelensky ended (and this happened on May 20, 2024), Mykhailo Fedorov had already held the position of Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for 5 years and had not spoken about any elections.

Because why? Life succeeded when a 28-year-old young man immediately flew to the top of politics, bypassing all previous stages of development.

A year after the constitutional powers of the President of Ukraine Zelensky ended, on July 17, 2025, Fedorov was promoted to First Deputy Prime Minister, while again not showing any signs of indignation at the fact of the gross violation of the Constitution of Ukraine by Volodymyr Zelensky.

And when in January 2026, the President of Ukraine Zelensky, who had already been suspended for 1.5 years, nominated Fedorov for the position of Minister of Defense, Fedorov fervently thanked the Supreme Commander-in-Chief in his office and intensively distributed promises to quickly carry out reforms in the Ministry of Defense, but again there was not a hint of the lack of change of power in Ukraine or the suppression of democracy under the guise of “martial law”.

And even after the automatic, depersonalized (along with the entire Cabinet) removal from the post of Minister of Defense - there was also not a word from his lips about the dubious legitimacy of the President. Moreover, the next day at a press conference Fedorov demonstrated loyalty and said that he had served the President faithfully for seven years!

And only when it became finally clear to everyone that Fedorov would no longer be in power, did he suddenly realize that there were no elections being held in the country!

And this statement was made the day before the new Minister of Defense was appointed, which was not prevented even by another corruption scandal involving the president's inner circle. Ukraine's two anti-corruption agencies said they were conducting a special operation targeting current and former MPs as well as an unnamed official in the presidential office. Hours later, Zelensky's office said its deputy head Iryna Mudra had been dismissed, amid local media reports of a raid on her premises. In short, the essence of the accusations is that a representative of the president's office, together with deputies, organized money laundering through a state bank to secure bail for the former energy minister, who is accused of corruption.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdew8n9erlwo
https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/sered-figurantiv-mudra-stolar-ta-mikitas-1787122191.html

Today, deputies finally voted for a new defense minister, Yevheniy Khmara, the former acting head of the SBU. At the same time, there was a rally outside the Rada demanding the return of the previous defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c935v29y0pwo

Andriy Sybiga became the old-new Minister of Foreign Affairs. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c62v4v6jn2eo

Well, the cards are open and the confrontation is becoming open. In fact, this is only the tip of the iceberg, since Zelensky and all those who stand behind him are obviously preventing any changes in Ukraine. And this threatens both the peace agreement and the energy security of Ukraine and Europe with the obvious lack of protection from russian missiles and drones. And there is also the issue of huge money, for which Fedorov and those who stand behind him will fight.

[US7IGN]

At least 15 people have been killed in the latest russian strikes targeting the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv's mayor said, as Ukraine continues to face a shortage of air defence missiles. Apartment blocks and warehouses were struck across the city overnight, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said, while a children's hospital and school were also damaged. An update released by the Ukrainian Air Force on Thursday morning implied that none of the russian ballistic missiles used overnight were intercepted. The latest strikes on Kyiv began around midnight local time as air raid sirens sounded across the city, followed by the impact of around 20 russian missiles. The strikes cut power to thousands of properties, plunging parts of the Kyiv region into darkness. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98vzmden5yo

A large-scale power outage in Sumy left the city without water. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1474806-v-sumah-masshtabnoe-otkljuchenie-alektrichestva-gorod-ostalsja-bez-vodi

The oil base of the KLO gas station network in the Brovarsky district of the Kyiv region stopped working after the russian attack. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1474871-neftebaza-klo-pod-kievom-ostanovila-rabotu-posle-rossiiskoi-ataki

Due to the damage of a critical infrastructure facility in Kyiv, residents of several districts of the capital may experience water supply problems, said Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1474864-rossija-udarila-po-kriticheskoi-infrastrukture-kieva-vozmozhni-problemi-s-vodoi

The missile strike on Boryspil also damaged a warehouse that stored goods for VARUS supermarkets. This is another grocery chain that has been hit recently. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1474839-rossiiskii-udar-povredil-sklad-s-tovarami-varus-v-borispole

In stores of other chains, there were noticeably fewer products on the shelves. There will most likely not be a complete shortage, but the cost of goods will definitely increase. https://focus.ua/uk/eksklyuzivy/765142-masovana-ataka-rf-20-serpnya-chomu-rosiya-b-ye-po-skladah-i-chi-nakopichuye-raketi-fokus

[KD8ZM-Brady]

I saw the reports here about the 15 casualties in Kyiv. Heartbreaking! I'm not even sure what to say, that doesn't involve profanity. God bless you and all Ukrainians.

[N0TZU]

I saw the reports here about the 15 casualties in Kyiv. Heartbreaking! I'm not even sure what to say, that doesn't involve profanity. God bless you and all Ukrainians.

Exactly my thoughts too.

[US7IGN]

Hello guys. This has already become the new normal.

Sixteen people were killed and 130 injured in the busy mall in Kryvyi Rih yesterday, local officials said. Nine people are reportedly still missing, including two children. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c39egw7nmk2o

The suspicion was declared against the director of one of the supermarkets in the shopping center, Interior Minister Ivan Vyhovsky said. https://www.unian.ua/incidents/u-krivomu-rozi-ogolosili-pidozru-direktoru-supermarketu-v-tc-po-yakomu-vdarila-rosiya-13477749.html

So when the russians hit a shopping center with a missile, they hold its director accountable for failing to ensure the safety of visitors, but when the russians destroy the entire country, it is not the supreme commander-in-chief who was supposed to ensure the safety of the residents who is to blame, but the russians.

Anyway, at night, the russians launched another ballistic missile strike on Kyiv, attacking a railway company near me, killing one person. They also attacked the Odesa, Zaporizhia, and Poltava regions. A railway station near Odesa was also destroyed. It should be understood that since the times of the Soviet Union, railway transportation of both goods and people has always dominated domestic transportation in Ukraine in terms of volume.

This afternoon, a ballistic missile strike near Kyiv killed two people and injured eight others, including a child. Damage was caused to warehouses, a parking lot, vehicles, a private household, and a gas station. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c62qp2k7yrpo
It looks like another retail chain will have fewer products.

The city of Sloviansk in Donetsk region, the last of two major cities still controlled by Ukraine, has officially been given the status of an area of ​​active fighting. The transition from one status to the other means that the war has not just moved closer to the city, but has turned it into a zone of intense fighting. https://www.dsnews.ua/ukr/politics/slov-yansk-shcho-na-donechchini-otrimav-status-teritoriji-aktivnih-boyovih-diy-22082026-465981#google_vignette

It was once a large city with a population of over 100,000 and many large factories, which I visited often.

The European Commission responded to the Ukrainian Ministry of Agrarian Policy's letter requesting that it provide Ukrainian farmers with 220 million euros in non-repayable aid due to russian attacks on Black Sea ports: Brussels stated that the support would be provided using existing mechanisms. European Commission spokesman Markus Lammert recalled that Ukraine "already receives interest rate subsidies on loans for farmers through the Ukraine Facility, so Ukrainian farmers are already receiving support within the framework of the Plan." https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/news/2026/08/20/7243857/

Meanwhile, parliamentary committee on Aug. 21 defended its earlier decision to block five bills intended to strengthen the country's fight against corruption. The bills are requirements of the European Union, both to receive an estimated 2.1 billion euros ($2.45 billion) at the end of 2026, as well as to advance Kyiv's EU accession talks. The reforms seek to expand anti-corruption agencies' authority, reform the Prosecutor General's Office and the State Investigation Bureau, and repeal legislation that impedes corruption cases. The Ukrainian parliament's law enforcement committee on Aug. 19 blocked the bills by not including them in the agenda of parliament's current session, which is scheduled to end in January. To become valid, the decision has to be approved by Ruslan Stefanchuk, speaker of the Verkhovna Rada.

The move has sparked outrage and drawn sharp criticism from pro-reform lawmakers and anti-corruption activists. They argued that the decision was a major blow to both Ukraine's EU integration and anti-corruption reforms. https://kyivindependent.com/scandal-erupts-over-ukraines-move-to-block-key-eu-integration-bills/

Ukrainian regions are to conduct command and staff exercises before the 2026–2027 heating season. Services are practicing emergency actions at heat, electricity, gas, and water supply facilities, including scenarios of long outages and damage to critical infrastructure. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1475079-ukraina-gotovitsja-k-zimnim-avarijam-regioni-provedut-uchenija-na-sluchai-otkljuchenija-sveta-tepla-i-vodi

Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov is considering a trip to the United States according to the Kyiv Independent. The potential trip comes as Fedorov has emerged as a more outspoken critic of Ukraine's wartime political system. https://kyivindependent.com/exclusive-dismissed-ukrainian-defense-minister-fedorov-mulls-us-visit-as-soon-as-next-week-sources-say/

In a comment to Suspilny, the team of former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov confirmed plans for his trip to the United States. It is related to projects in the field of defense technologies. They also clarified that the visit does not include meetings with American politicians or officials. https://suspilne.media/1383856-u-komandi-fedorova-pidtverdili-plani-sodo-poizdki-do-ssa-ale-meta-ne-politicna/

Ukraine itself must decide when to hold elections, based on the Constitution and legislative framework, adhering to relevant democratic standards, European Commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said on August 20. https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/news/2026/08/20/7243843/

The US and European agencies have tightened their scrutiny of funds earmarked for military aid to Ukraine, including bringing in a former Israeli intelligence officer to help track down funds that are believed to be missing, according to Intelligence Online. https://www.intelligenceonline.com/americas/2026/08/20/us-and-eu-hire-former-mossad-officer-to-probe-missing-ukraine-funds%2C110861961-art?utm_source=chatgpt.com

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree obliging the government to organize an open competition and take all necessary measures to erect a monument to Hetman Ivan Mazepa in Kyiv. https://www.president.gov.ua/news/prezident-pidpisav-ukaz-pro-pidgotovku-ta-realizaciyu-proyek-105933 This is undoubtedly very important in these difficult times.

Some Ukrainians expected changes in mobilization related to the change of the commander-in-chief and the Minister of Defense, but it is unlikely that anything will change in the near future.

In Lutsk, western Ukraine, a group of people attacked representatives of a mobilization center and police officers while they were chasing a man. The incident left two servicemen injured, and a service car was damaged and looted. https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/lutsku-natovp-napav-ttsk-viyskovih-pobili-1787331426.html

In Lviv, during a detention, a man stabbed one of the representatives of the mobilization center, from which he died. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cdrv1r4y6xpo
Local residents say that three mobilizers beat the man before he pulled out a knife. Now he faces life imprisonment. While when someone is killed in a mobilization center, the perpetrators are in most cases only removed from office.

Maybe people use knives and shovels because they have no other legal ways to protect themselves from lawlessness on the part of the authorities? The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, stated that he is not aware of any case where the head of a military medical commission was held personally liable for a decision that was later overturned.

That is, even if an illegal decision to mobilize a sick person is overturned by a court (after a long time and significant expenses), this will not result in the person's demobilization, and those who made the illegal decisions do not bear any responsibility at all. https://today.ua/492923-ne-mozhe-buti-tak-sho-rishennya-skasuvali-i-na-comu-vse-lubinec-zayaviv-pro-bezkarnist-kerivnikiv-vlk/

It is also significant that after accusations of bribery against almost a hundred heads of mobilization centers, no one raised any questions about their leadership. As well as the fact that the military personnel who tortured the recruits remain at large. Currently, Anatoliy Chorney and Viktor Baiduzha have been released on bail and continue to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to investigators, on November 11, the deputy head of the Verkhovyna mobilization center gave four subordinates instructions to hold the recruit, and he himself punched him in the groin at least 20 times. Because of this, doctors performed an orchiectomy on the victim - the removal of the left testicle. During the pre-trial investigation, it became known that four subordinates of the lieutenant colonel may be involved in the beating of people at the Verkhovyna district mobilization center. https://suspilne.media/amp/ivano-frankivsk/1381008-pidpolkovnika-tck-cornea-ta-jogo-pidleglogo-obvinuvacenih-u-katuvanni-ne-povernut-u-sizo-risenna-apelacijnogo-sudu/

[US7IGN]

On the morning of August 23, the heads of government and state of six European countries, as well as other high-ranking officials, arrived in the capital of Ukraine. The leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Norway arrived in Kyiv. As part of the visit, the foreign high-ranking officials will participate in the summit of the NB8 (Nordic-Baltic Eight) and the "Coalition of the Willing" formats, hold bilateral and multilateral negotiations with President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as in state events on the occasion of the National Flag Day and the Independence Day of Ukraine. https://www.kyivpost.com/post/82939

Perhaps that's why there were no airstrikes in Kyiv today and the missiles will fly immediately after their departure.

This year could be the most difficult for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since the start of the full-scale war. According to the assessment of The Sunday Times, this is influenced by political conflicts, corruption scandals, problems with mobilization and the weakening of Ukrainian air defense. https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/ukraine-zelensky-war-elections-manpower-corruption-fedorov-5v5qjn95z

President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Ukrainian media and, in particular, commented on the corruption scandal in the Office of the President and former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov's idea about elections. President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Ukrainian media and, in particular, commented on the corruption scandal in the Office of the President and the idea of ​​former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov about elections. The President stated that "the law enforcement and anti-corruption systems of Ukraine work independently" and this does not require a comment from the President. Regarding the suspect Iryna Mudra, who worked for a long time in the leadership of his Office, the President stated that he was unaware of any possible violations on her part. "The heads of anti-corruption agencies have zero questions for me. They understand perfectly well that I am not involved in anything like this. And this is important for me," Zelensky stated. Zelensky made it clear that he is categorically against elections. "I believe that if we want to destroy the country, then during such a war we can move towards elections. We have already been pushed towards elections during such a war from different sides. There was such a wave about a year ago," he said. As for the situation on the battlefield, according to Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian army has already "almost liberated" the entire territory of the Dnipropetrovsk region. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c78g8ex7p5yo

Well, whatever. Either Zelensky pretends not to know what his team is doing, or he really doesn't. And I don't even know which is worse. I even assume that he sincerely believes what he says. But ignoring reality is not the best way to exist in it. It is clear that many more surprises await him. For example, questions from anti-corruption agencies about when they will reveal the next batch of incriminating materials, or the loss of the rest of the Donetsk region. It turned out that not only Sloviansk, but also Kramatorsk have already been officially recognized as a combat zone. So if the Ukrainian troops are withdrawn, then the fate of Mariupol and other occupied cities awaits them, and if the fighting continues, then they will be left in ruins. Of course, it is good that the president still believes in victory and de-occupation of Ukrainian territories, but I would like to know when and how this will be done.

At least his willingness to continue fighting is shared by fewer and fewer people, and therefore the authorities are forced to invent new ways to force others to do so. In Ukraine, changes are being prepared regarding the draft age and mobilization, in particular, the possibility of lowering the upper age limit to 50–55 years is being discussed, said Roman Kostenko, secretary of the parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence. https://sud.ua/uk/news/ukraine/370126-v-ukraini-mozhut-znyzyty-verkhniu-mezhu-mobilizatsii-do-5055-rokiv-kostenko-anonsuvav-zminy-shchodo-pryzovnoho-viku

But people believe that this actually means something he did not say. Namely, also lowering the draft age below 25 years. Also, more and more people are losing reservations and deferrals from the draft for various reasons. The reserved ones remind me of livestock that are simply given time to gain weight so they can be slaughtered for the holidays. I remember when I was a little boy helping the adults in the village slaughter a pig, I always thought about how the same holiday can be perceived differently depending on who you are at it...

[US7IGN]

The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has travelled to Moscow for unannounced talks, the BBC's US news partner CBS has reported. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c87vg9x5d7do

Andy Burnham has promised to keep up the pressure on russia despite Moscow's "outrageous threats", on his first official visit to Ukraine as UK prime minister. Burnham met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and chaired his first meeting of the "coalition of the willing", set up by the UK and France under his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer. He said the coalition was "doing everything we can" while urging the US Congress to "ratchet up" economic pressure on russia. The government has agreed to hand over blueprints for British-made components for the Scalp missile, a French version of the UK's Storm Shadow cruise missile - allowing Ukraine to produce the long-range weapon domestically. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyqypkrzq5o

Statements are statements, but the real consequence of Andy Burnham's visit was the absence of air attacks on Kyiv during his stay, which gave Ukrainians a reason to joke that he should also be invited to stay in Ukraine for the entire winter.

As for the possibility of producing missiles in Ukraine, it is unlikely. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8zxqn57z3o But at least pretending that they are made in Ukraine would allow Britain and France to supply them to Ukraine without fear of a russian response.

Ukraine planned to use AI-guided drones to swarm Moscow’s airports in an effort to force Vladimir putin to the negotiating table, The Telegraph reports. The mission, codenamed M&Ms, would have needed as many as 1,000 drones a night to be sent towards Moscow’s airports to overwhelm russia’s air defences. However, when Mr Zelensky was presented with the proposal, he was reported to have been worried about accusations of “piracy” should a drone hit a civilian airliner and harm passengers, airport staff or flight crews. The Ukrainian president has sanctioned attacks on Russian soil, but only against targets with military significance. It is unclear whether the plan was not carried out because of Europe’s hesitance about targeting civilian targets. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/08/21/ukraine-plan-russian-flights-ai-drone-swarm/

Ukraine appears to be slowly losing the war against russia, ousted Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov told Reuters, warning that Kyiv has a window of several months to make key decisions needed to turn the tide in its favour. Engrained corruption and patronage networks, as well as a ‌lack of political independence in government institutions were also holding the country back, he said in an interview. Ukraine’s presidential office said in response to Fedorov’s comments that he had been positive about the conduct of the ​war when he was at the ministry and the only thing that had changed was his personal status.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, ​Fedorov's former political patron turned rival, said at ⁠the weekend that bringing spending forward had left a $27 billion hole in the ministry's budget, for which donor-dependent Ukraine does not have a solution. Fedorov said he had no idea where Zelensky got this figure, arguing his ministry devised a spending plan that relied on savings from new procurement tenders and international support. Fedorov alleged that ​when he arrived at the defence ministry, he found department heads appointed at the behest of Ukrainian defence companies to lobby for their interests. "By the ​end of the year, the ⁠budget deficit under our planning was around five billion dollars, and we knew where we would get it," he said. "Perhaps the plan changed and new projects emerged that require such a budget." https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/ukraine-needs-changes-avoid-losing-war-ousted-defence-minister-says-2026-08-25/
https://www.ukrinform.ua/amp/rubric-economy/4156808-deficit-budzetu-minoboroni-stanovit-27-milardi-zelenskij.html

Meanwhile, the High Anti-Corruption Court has chosen a preventive measure in the form of detention for the former deputy head of the Presidential Office Iryna Mudra for a period of 60 days. She will be able to leave custody if she posts bail in the amount of UAH 20 million instead of UAH 150 million initially requested by the prosecutor. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1475547-mudruju-vzjali-pod-strazhu-sud-naznachil-zalog-v-75-raza-nizhe-chem-prosila-sap

There are rumors that she has reached an agreement with the investigation, which means that she may be the whistleblower of her former boss Budanov, and maybe Zelensky. https://ua.news/ua/ukraine/irina-mudra-pishla-na-ugodu-zi-slidstvom-sotsmerezhi

Although the latter cannot be held criminally liable as the current president, we understand what the consequences will be for him. Such elements of the show were present at this trial as the statement of the Chief Rabbi of Kyiv, Yonatan Markovych, about his readiness to vouch for Mudra. Yonatan Markovych's proposal to take the former deputy head of the OP Iryna Mudra on bail does not reflect the position of the entire Jewish community, said the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Moshe Reuven Azman. https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/golovniy-rabin-ukrayini-zhorstko-vidreaguvav-1787675486.html

Yesterday, corrupt officials of all levels wore embroidered shirts and posed under the Ukrainian flag, boasting of their "patriotism" on Ukraine's Independence Day. Since this holiday is not a day off, I spent it in court and was glad that the court hearings were not canceled due to the air raid warning. This holiday has been causing me mixed feelings lately. Starting from hypocrisy and ending with inferiority. And can we talk about real independence if Ukraine has never been as dependent on others as it is now? In fact, only a change in influence is taking place, not status. In my opinion, it is better to get rid of the fixation on the colonial past and to celebrate the day of the country's foundation while preserving continuity and historical roots with Kyivan Rus.

[US7IGN]

The CIA director's visit to Moscow has resulted in a bewildering array of theories trying to explain the purpose and outcome, with the most radical theory suggesting that the Americans were trying to dissuade the russians from a nuclear strike on Ukraine. Some see an analogy when then-CIA Director William Burns also visited Moscow in November 2021. During that visit, Burns warned russian officials against attacking Ukraine, and everyone knows how it ended.

All foreign dignitaries left Ukraine and russia resumed air attacks. Today the russian army massively attacked Ukraine with ballistic missiles and drones. Kyiv and the region, Odesa, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Kryvyi Rih, Poltava and Sumy regions were hit. Warehouses are burning near Kyiv, and in the capital itself, the hits were in the center. In Kharkiv, a drone hit a shopping center, one person was killed and at least four injured. Also, for the first time in a long time, some ballistic missiles were shot down by air defenses. It is obvious that Ukraine has received Patriot interceptors.

The Kherson CHP was hit by 4 guided aerial bombs at once. As a result of the strike, all heat-generating and power-generating equipment remaining at the plant was completely destroyed and put out of action. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cvgy3yvgze4o

As a result of the russian attack on the night of August 27, the logistics infrastructure of several large Ukrainian retailers was damaged. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1476076-rossiiskaja-ataka-povredila-logisticheskie-obekti-treh-torgovih-setei
https://fbc.biz.ua/news/ekonomika-uk/logistichni-zboyi-b-yut-po-ritejlu-metro-fokstrot-i-epitsentr-poperedzhayut-pro-rizik-podorozhchannya-tovariv/

In Kyiv, the air raid warning is almost constant, and due to the threat of strikes on shopping centers, they are forced to close, which does not improve their financial situation. Of course, the consumer will pay for everything, as there will be a shortage and rising prices.

In the materials of the criminal case within the framework of the "Forest Gump" operation against the former Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Iryna Mudra, another official of the Presidential Office appears, in addition to her. The investigation assigns the role of organizer to this official - in the recorded conversations he is most often called "Kyrylo" and "Kyrylo Oleksiyovich". This person was supposed to receive cash from Timur Mindich and members of his group under control, organize its storage and transfer mechanism, as well as provide financial remuneration to those involved. According to Hromadske, this is probably the head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov - his surname, according to journalists, also appears directly in the materials of the criminal case. https://hromadske.ua/polityka/269984-k-kyryllu-obratylsia-myndych-na-plivkakh-mudroyi-fihuruye-sluzbova-osoba-ofisu-prezydenta

[US7IGN]

For the third day, constant drone attacks on Kyiv have continued, but the greatest destruction occurred at an ammunition depot near Kyiv, although local residents say they did not hear the sounds of drones or missiles.

At least 37 people have been killed and dozens wounded after a russian drone attack on an ammunitions warehouse triggered a large fire and multiple explosions that lasted for hours in a residential area near Kyiv, CNN reports. https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/29/europe/ukraine-kyiv-russia-war-attack-intl
https://glavcom.ua/country/incidents/pid-kijevom-pislja-potuzhnoho-vibukhu-spalakhnula-masshtabna-pozhezha-foto-1139512.html
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to punish those responsible for allowing explosive materials to be stored this close to people’s homes. The incident is particularly worrying as it comes just weeks after seven people died when a russian strike hit a warehouse storing large quantities of ammunition in a residential area in Vyshneve near Kyiv, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the site of the incident on Saturday.

Actually new jet-powered drones fly quietly compared to older versions with piston engines at speeds of up to 500 kilometers per hour (310 miles per hour), evading Ukraine’s air defenses. Therefore, local residents could not have heard them. But this fuels the conspiracy theory that in this way evidence of the supply of low-quality ammunition is being destroyed or their shortage is being hidden, which supposedly arose under the previous Minister of Defense Fedorov. After all, now no one will be able to calculate how much ammunition was actually delivered and whether it corresponds to the money that was paid for them from the budget. Perhaps these rumors are deliberately spread by the enemies of Fedorov, who accepted the offer to become an advisor to the Italian Minister of Defense. https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-fedorov-radnyk-ministra-oborony-italii/33842705.html
https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2026/08/28/8050820/

Anyway, the new jet-powered drones are also too fast for Kyiv’s mobile fire groups, so the only way to shoot them down is with ground-to-air missiles or fighter jets – both of which are in extremely limited supply in Ukraine. “The russians have significantly stepped up their use of jet-powered UAVs and their numbers will continue to rise, because the russians recognize their effectiveness,” Pavlo Palisa, the deputy head of Zelensky’s Presidential Office, told reporters on Saturday, adding that Ukraine needs to adapt its defenses. “This will take time. The interceptor drones we currently have, which in theory could intercept jet-powered drones, have not yet demonstrated the expected effectiveness …. we are looking for ways to resolve it.” https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/29/europe/ukraine-kyiv-russia-war-attack-intl

The russian Federation has threatened that it may attack British military targets in Ukraine and "beyond its borders" in response to strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces using British weapons. https://nv.ua/ukr/world/geopolitics/mzs-rosiji-prigrozilo-udarami-po-viyskovih-cilyah-britaniji-50636228.html

Fighters of the Unmanned Systems Forces attacked 21 power plants and the Luhansk thermal power plant in the temporarily russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, Commander Robert "Magyar" Brovdi reported. https://www.slovoidilo.ua/2026/08/28/novyna/bezpeka/ptaxy-madyara-urazyly-shhe-21-enerhovuzol-luhansku-tes-okupantiv
https://suspilne.media/donbas/1390126-ukrainski-vijska-atakuvali-desatok-energoobektiv-na-okupovanih-castinah-lugansini-i-doneccini-komaduvac-sbs/
You can imagine the life of Ukrainians under occupation, who are under fire from two sides.

The monopoly railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia is reporting massive delays across the country. As of the morning of August 28, dozens of trains are significantly late, some by 10–15 hours. Warehouses and retail stores continue to burn across the country, with some closing altogether in the eastern regions. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cn8mg2pd9jxo

In one of them, the Epicenter hardware store chain, according to Fire Point CEO Iryna Terek, parts were purchased for use in the production of drones and missiles. https://bukvy.org/flamingo-z-petlyamy-z-epitsentru-u-fire-point-poyasnyly-nezvychne-rishennya/

So it's not surprising that the russians claim they are attacking military targets.

Meanwhile, russian strikes have caused massive losses to the logistics of Ukrainian grocery chains. According to the Minister of Agrarian Policy Taras Vysotsky, "relatively speaking" about 90% of the logistics through which retail ensured the supply of products has now been destroyed. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1476278-v-ukraine-unichtozheno-okolo-90-logistiki-produktovogo-riteila-minagropolitiki

Despite the authorities' assurances that there is no shortage of products, the ATB Market chain has introduced restrictions on the sale of a number of grocery products and chicken eggs - one buyer can purchase up to 6 dozen eggs, 6 kg of loose or solid products, 6 bottles or other types of packaging of certain products. https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/atb-obmezhila-prodazh-bakaliyi-ta-ets-vsiy-1787933985.html

Some Ukrainians joke that this is the result of a 40-day influence operation on russia approved by Zelensky on June 25 to encourage an end to the war. https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2026/06/25/8041138/

[US7IGN]

Kyiv is in its fifth day of virtually continuous air attacks by jet drones, which began on the night of August 26. The constant alarms are interrupted for only 20-40 minutes, and then resume again with the arrival of several more drones. The work of air defense can be heard in the city all day and evening of August 30. The presidential advisor noted on Facebook that "last month, Ukraine was attacked by approximately 1,500 Shahed jets, this month there have been more than 2,500." https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c2dwxknn0g8o

These are very sad numbers and the problem is not only with the hits and destruction of many more or less large warehouses and factories, but also with the fact that during the air raids, state institutions and large supermarkets are not working. So there are no customers, no profit, no jobs.

The russian Ministry of Defense stated in its statement that it is preparing for massive attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities. https://epravda.com.ua/energetika/u-rf-zayavili-pro-pidgotovku-masovanogo-udaru-po-energetici-ukrajini-825090/

Ukraine should reconsider its approach to mobilization. In the proposed model, the main criterion should not be the number of military personnel involved, but the efficiency of human resource use, said Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara during a closed meeting with journalists. https://korabelov.info/2026/08/610147/ievhen-khmara-zaproponuvav-zminyty-model-mobilizatsii-holovnoiu-maie-buty-efektyvnist-a-ne-kilkist/

"To leave the mobilization center bus costs $10,000, and to leave the mobilization center premises costs $15,000. And now a turnkey service has appeared, where a person is simply transported abroad from the bus for $50,000-70,000," says Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights. https://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2026/09/01/8051239/

Perhaps this is why we continue to observe conflicts on the streets and people's negative attitude towards mobilization in this form.

The facts of illegal actions of mobilization center employees against a 61-year-old man were confirmed during an inspection in the Khmelnytskyi region. Information was spread on social networks that on July 20, 2026, in the village of Lekhnivka, a man was allegedly handcuffed to a car and physical force was used on him during mobilization-related events. https://suspilne.media/khmelnytskiy/1389696-nezakonne-pozbavlenna-voli-ta-perevisenna-povnovazen-na-hmelniccini-pidtverdili-fakti-nepravomirnih-dij-tck/

In Ternopil on August 25, a group of local residents attacked soldiers at a mobilization center. As a result of the conflict, several soldiers were injured. A large group of law enforcement officers with an armored vehicle immediately arrived at the scene. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/cwyzeq4j9geo

The State Bureau of Investigation has launched a pre-trial investigation into the possible unlawful deprivation of liberty and infliction of bodily harm on a man during mobilization events in Kyiv. Unknown individuals forcibly detained the man on the street, used physical force, and forcibly took him to one of the district mobilization centers in the capital. There, the detainee spent about 8 hours in handcuffs, and was also beaten and tortured. https://kyivschina24.com/news/skandal-iz-tczk-u-kyyevi-cholovika-8-godyn-trymaly-v-kajdankah-i-katuvaly/

A conflict broke out in Kovel, Volyn, on August 28, involving members of the military mobilization center, police officers, and three civilian men. During the incident, a truck ran over a serviceman of the mobilization center and also damaged police and mobilization center service vehicles. https://ua.news/ua/ukraine/u-koveli-vantazhivka-zbila-viiskovogo-ttsk-pid-chas-konfliktu

Since violence replaces laws, this is how controversial situations are increasingly resolved. The conflict between a veteran and patrol officers in Kyiv occurred after law enforcement officers stopped a Honda car for violating traffic rules. According to the head of the Patrol Police of Ukraine, Oleksiy Biloshitsky, during the incident the driver hit one of the police officers in the face. https://shtab.info/news/u-kyyevi-stavsya-konflikt-veterana-z-patrulnymy-pislya-peresliduvannya-avto/

During the large-scale special operation "Honest Draft", which the State Bureau of Investigation is currently conducting in cooperation with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in mobilization centers throughout Ukraine, employees of the State Bureau of Investigation have uncovered illegal interference with the Unified State Register of Conscripts and Reservists. It was established that a group of individuals, for money, helped conscripts get rid of the status of violators of military registration, go through the necessary procedures without the risk of being mobilized and get time for further reservation. https://dbr.gov.ua/news/pershi-rezultati-operacii-chesnij-prizov-dbr-vikrilo-v-odnomu-z-stolichnih-tck-mehanizm-nezakonnogo-vidalennya-danih-iz-reestru-za-2-5-tis.-dol

However, nothing is reported about no less shameful cases when, by interfering with the same register, employees of mobilization centers change people's data in order to unjustifiably impose a fine or deprive them of a deferral or reservation to mobilize or demand a bribe for release.

[US7IGN]

At least 12 people have been killed and 20 injured, including two children, in overnight russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine's capital Kyiv and the wider region, officials say. Six of the casualties were railway workers of the state Ukrzaliznytsia company after a depot was hit in Kyiv. russia said its "massive strike using high-precision weapons" targeted Ukraine's military and energy facilities, and added that one person was also killed in Ukrainian strikes on russia's western Belgorod region. This comes a day after russian President Vladimir putin was urged by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a close ally, to end the war. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2zmdgry3do

It was quite noisy at night, but it seems that this time some of the missiles and drones were shot down. Ukrainian air defense has already shot down or suppressed 82 drones, including 57 jets, but the attack is still ongoing. The number of missiles has not been officially reported. https://war.obozrevatel.com/ukr/velika-kilkist-ne-dosyagae-tsilej-ignat-pro-zbittya-vorozhoi-balistiki.htm
https://ua.news/ua/war-vs-rf/ppo-zbila-maizhe-80-reaktivnikh-droniv-za-den

Constant air alarms are not only tiring, but also disrupt plans because many government agencies, including courts, stop working. People are taken out into the street and they stand outside the courthouse waiting for the opportunity to continue the hearing. Judges and court employees either continue to work in their offices or take the opportunity to take a walk or go to a nearby cafe. This way, you can spend half a day near the court, and on the other hand, meet all the lawyers you know who still work in Kyiv.

Ukraine has accumulated 14.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas in underground storage facilities, and this volume is sufficient for the baseline scenario of the 2026/2027 heating season, First Deputy Prime Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal said. https://forbes.ua/news/ukraina-nakopichila-neobkhidniy-obsyag-gazu-dlya-bazovogo-stsenariyu-zimi-shmigal-28082026-41531

I don't know how this relates to the fact that there is a catastrophic lack of money and that even Europe doesn't have enough gas reserves. I don't want to think that this is not true, or that someone stole money for gas that actually doesn't exist, and that its absence can be explained by destruction due to another russian missile strike later.

Ukraine's new defence minister said he would outline a "clear vision" for Kyiv's partners of how his country plans to fight russia, as the government tries to bring forward ​part of a European Union loan to help cover a $27 billion military budget deficit. Ukraine ‌relies heavily on foreign funds to continue its war effort, now in its fifth year, with the EU committing €90 billion in financing through 2027. In comments to reporters released on Sunday, Yevhenii Khmara said Kyiv would seek to bring forward part of the €45 ​billion loan planned for next year, as well as lobby allies for greater contributions and ​new countries that had not yet given. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-defence-chief-pledges-clear-war-plan-win-early-loan-release-2026-08-30/

The European Commission has made it clear that it is skeptical about the idea of ​​paying Ukraine part of the EU loan of 90 billion euros, planned for 2027, this year. Brussels emphasizes that the loan is designed for two years, and its payments are tied to Ukraine's implementation of reforms. This was stated on September 1 by European Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho, answering journalists' questions about Ukraine's additional financing needs and the request from President Volodymyr Zelensky to receive half of the 90 billion euro loan, planned for next year, this year. https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-yevrokomisiya-vyplaty-ukrayini-kredyt-90-mlrd/33844795.html

The Cabinet of Ministers is intensifying budget savings amid a sharp increase in defense spending. The government has already found about UAH 70 billion (approximately EUR 1.4 billion) in reserves from other expenditures and plans to fully allocate this money to the needs of the Defense Forces. At the same time, a detailed audit of the Defense Ministry's needs and its use of budget resources will be conducted within a month, Prime Minister Serhiy Koretsky said during a speech in the Verkhovna Rada. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1476883-kabmin-posiljue-rezhim-ekonomiyi-na-tli-deficitu-oboronnogo-bjudzhetu

Zelensky was elected to fight the crooks. Now they are his friends, writes The Australian Financial Review. Penny Wong must scrutinise corruption within the Ukrainian government, especially when Australian taxpayer dollars are funding its defence against russia. https://www.afr.com/world/europe/zelensky-was-elected-to-fight-the-crooks-now-they-are-his-friends-20260827-p60s97

russian President Vladimir putin fears for his life if the war ends without achieving at least a minimal goal, The Economist writes. The Kremlin leader spent several weeks over the summer deliberating on further strategy and, according to the publication's sources, ultimately leaned toward escalating the war. https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/08/30/cornered-vladimir-putin-plans-to-escalate-his-war

russia is using massive drone strikes on Ukraine, particularly on civilian targets, to create a "victory image" for its domestic audience ahead of the State Duma elections. The russian government is unable to show voters tangible results on the battlefield, so it is trying to compensate for this with large-scale air strikes, said the head of the Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1476872-rf-posiljue-udari-po-ukrayini-na-tli-nablizhennja-viboriv-do-derzhdumi-%E2%80%93-budanov

For the first time in a long time, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the G20 summit in Asheville, North Carolina. And, as FOX Business reported, citing Bessant, he "promoted President Trump's 28-point peace plan for Ukraine." The White House called the meeting with the russian Finance Minister "productive" and confirmed that it was dedicated to resolving the situation in Ukraine. However, it nevertheless caused a protest from European officials, writes Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/31/bessent-welcomes-russia-back-to-g20-as-europe-pushes-back-01058296

The US Treasury Secretary has blamed Ukraine for the energy crisis and global price increases. "We are going through an energy shock right now due to both the war in Ukraine—because Ukraine has decided that they want to blow up russian energy assets and refined products—so that is creating an upward price pressure on a global basis." - said Bessent in a comment to Fox News. https://antikor.info/articles/860432-ministr_finansov_sa_obvinil_ukrainu_v_mirovom_energeticheskom_shoke_i_roste_tsen_na_toplivo

A bill that would give US President Donald Trump the power to impose 100% tariffs on countries that aid russia, sanctions on its energy projects and leaders was quickly passed by the US Senate after the death of its co-sponsor, Senator Lindsey Graham. But it has stalled in the House of Representatives, Politico reports. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/31/russia-sanctions-bill-house-01058380

Unrealistic optimism isn’t helping Ukraine, writes The Telegraph. Kyiv said it needs to mobilise at least 30,000 people a month to maintain troop levels, suggesting losses higher than officially admitted. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/30/unrealistic-optimism-isnt-helping-ukraine/

Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov stated that the Armed Forces need to mobilize 30 thousand citizens every month, and called for accepting mobilization "as it is. We cannot do otherwise." Budanov also believes that with the appointment of Defense Minister Yevheniy Khmara, nothing will change regarding mobilization. https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2026/08/28/8050796/

Everyone has long understood that they "cannot do otherwise", and maybe that is precisely the problem? How can you expect a different result by continuing to act in the same way? Who will lose first in a war of attrition with the same losses, but with different population sizes?

[N0TZU]

It’s horrible that the situation has deteriorated to this extent. I greatly fear for your health and safety as winter approaches.

[US7IGN]

It’s horrible that the situation has deteriorated to this extent. I greatly fear for your health and safety as winter approaches.

Hi Bob!

No one can predict what will happen tomorrow. Even when you make plans to meet next week, you hear more and more often, - if we live to see each other.

Kyiv residents are recommended to have a supply of drinking water and food at home for approximately 7–12 days in case of disruptions that may occur due to russian strikes. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1476903-kijanam-radjat-trimati-vdoma-zapas-vodi-ta-yizhi-na-7%E2%80%9312-dniv

On Wednesday, September 2, russia continued its campaign of intensive shelling of Kyiv and the region with jet drones, which has lasted for almost a week. At least seven people have been injured. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c780ezg68v4o

There were hits both in the center and in other places. Black smoke is visible over the city.

russia is increasingly attacking Ukrainian railways - from tracks and electrical substations to locomotives and depots. For a country where the railway provides passenger transport, military logistics and the functioning of the economy, this is becoming an increasingly serious problem, writes the Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/01/russia-targets-ukraines-rail-network-as-war-enters-deadly-new-phase
https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c74k31dqy45o

So Maryna and Kate returned to Poland on time and very successfully by train with a delay of only an hour and a half.

At the same time, the Economist warns of a wider problem: Ukraine is entering winter against the background of increased russian air attacks and a lack of means to combat some missiles and drones. https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/09/01/ukraine-is-bracing-for-russias-hardest-winter-blitz-yet

On the night of September 2, russia also launched a massive missile and drone strike on key energy infrastructure facilities in the Odesa region. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1476999-masovanii-udar-po-energetici-odeshini-zalishiv-bez-svitla-sotni-tisjach-rodin

russian President Vladimir putin said that the russian military has been instructed to prepare massive strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. At the same time, he called the negotiation process to end the war "frozen" and threatened to respond to Ukrainian strikes on russian territory. putin said this on September 1 at a press conference after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1477001-putin-zajaviv-pro-pidgotovku-masovanih-udariv-po-energetici-ukrayini

Three warehouses in the Buchanskyi district of Kyiv region were damaged by a russian attack. The facilities were set on fire and destroyed, the State Emergency Service reported. https://kurs.com.ua/novost/1477002-na-kiyivshini-rosijani-povtorno-vdarili-po-skladah-u-kievi-vinikla-pozhezha

I ordered an electric blanket that can be powered by a 12-volt battery, and while it used to be delivered the next day, now they promise to deliver it only in a week.

Also, in addition to the usual explosions, Kyiv residents were also entertained today by fighters from the Security Service of Ukraine and the Main Intelligence Directorate, who staged a shootout on the street, allegedly due to the kidnapping of Stepan Kaplunov, a serviceman of the Main Intelligence Directorate unit of the "russian Volunteer Corps" - a special unit of russians fighting against russia.

The Security Service of Ukraine stated that a group of individuals carried out an armed attack on the SSU operational-investigative group, attempted to obstruct the investigation, and blocked the road with cars. The SSU version is that as part of a pre-trial investigation into a terrorist act organized by russian special services, SSU officers were conducting urgent investigative actions to collect and record evidence.

The head of the Office of the President, former head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, said that the situation with the shootout in Kyiv will be handled by the State Bureau of Investigation. “The SBI will now deal with the situation, it is important to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation, but no one has the right to kidnap servicemen with impunity, open fire on the streets of our cities, give and carry out criminal orders,” Budanov said.
https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c20l1vv218go
https://www.unian.ua/incidents/u-kiyevi-vidbulasya-strilyanina-za-uchasti-sbu-ta-gur-stali-vidomi-podrobici-novini-kiyeva-13487823.html
https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-borovskyy-hur-sbu-konflikt/33845487.html

It would be good if this extended to the kidnapping of all other people. In Kamyansk, Dnipropetrovsk region, a police car during a conflict with local residents ran over a man who lay on the road under the wheels, trying to prevent the mobilization of his friend. The victim received serious injuries. https://incident.obozrevatel.com/ukr/crime/u-kamyanskomu-avtivka-politsii-naihala-na-cholovika-yakij-lig-pid-kolesa-podrobitsi-ta-video.htm

[US7IGN]

Among the usual missile and drone strikes on warehouses around Kyiv and in the city itself, today an explosion was heard in the very center. The drone hit the window of the office of the head of the Security Service of Ukraine. I was at a meeting nearby at the time and heard the explosion very close. The city center was immediately blocked and I had to spend some time in traffic jams watching the hustle and bustle of the police and several ambulances leaving the scene.

It is known that 12 people were injured, the head of the Service was not in his office at the time of the explosion. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c790348923zo
https://www.slovoidilo.ua/2026/09/04/novyna/suspilstvo/udar-po-sbu-kyyevi-chastkovo-vpala-stina-kilkist-postrazhdalyx-zrosla

The event sparked lively discussion and raised many questions. Everyone drew attention to the extraordinary accuracy of hitting the main Security Service of Ukraine building for the first time in many years. It turns out that if they wanted to, the russians could unhinderedly direct a drone into any window in the center of Kyiv? Someone sees a coincidence that this happened immediately after the showdown between the Security Service of Ukraine and the Main Intelligence Directorate and generally doubts that it was a russian drone.

US President Donald Trump's special envoys, Stephen Witkoff and Jared Kushner, may visit Ukraine for the first time since the war began. Their visit is scheduled for the coming days. The russian state news agency TASS reported that the envoys are expected to arrive first in Moscow and then in Kyiv. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c33kz0746p8o

[US7IGN]

Ukrainian army units have been ordered to observe a period of silence on the front line from 00:00 on September 5 to 23:59 on September 8, some Ukrainian media report, citing military sources. However, the source of such orders is unknown and not all military personnel confirm this. https://suspilne.media/1396178-rezim-pripinenna-vognu-ne-moze-buti-odnostoronnim-u-zsu-prokomentuvali-mozlivi-obmezenna/
https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2026/09/04/8051977/

NABU and SAP, as part of Operation Carthage, announced the exposure of a criminal organization whose members systematically received bribes from fraudulent call centers and laundered millions of dollars. The organizer and leader of the scheme was one of the heads of structural divisions of the Prosecutor General's Office. https://nabu.gov.ua/news/kryshuvannia-kol-tcentriv-ta-vidmyvannia-mayina-vykryto-zlochynnu-organizatciiu-na-choli-z-posadovtcem-ofisu-genprokurora/

The head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP), Oleksandr Klymenko, is considered one of the key architects of a series of high-profile criminal cases involving high-ranking Ukrainian officials over the past year. In a major interview, he made several interesting statements.
Recently, Kyiv journalists and experts have been discussing the possible appearance of the head of the President's Office, former head of military intelligence General Kyrylo Budanov, among the defendants in the NABU and SAP cases. Budanov himself, in a comment to journalists, stated: "Let the court figure out where everything is being said. You know, we have a lot of things being said where."
During the interview, Klymenko did not give a direct answer to the question of whether Budanov is involved in the case: "The investigation will then show whether a sufficient amount of evidence has been collected. If (it) is enough to bring this or that person (to justice), then such decisions will be made."
The head of the SAP also confirmed that the current president of Ukraine has absolute immunity from investigations by any law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, clarifying that this immunity does not apply after the end of his term.
In an interview, Klymenko responded to accusations of politicization of the work of anti-corruption agencies, which are often heard from Ukrainian politicians, and called them manipulations. He also separately accused the Security Service of Ukraine of opposing his activities, and its head, Oleksandr Poklad, of having ties to Andriy Yermak. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/ckgw82ekx9eo

"Worse than in 2022," is how producers, traders and transport companies say that the sea route for Ukrainian exports, as well as imports, has been virtually non-operational since July. The consequences of this situation, which is already being called a "perfect storm", are broader than the inability to export grain. They will be felt not only by businesses, but also by the state budget, and most Ukrainians - right in their wallets. These are losses in trade, taxes, currency fluctuations and depletion of storage capacity. Building new warehouses may not help either, as the russians can quickly destroy them along with the grain. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c17j5l21ex2o

The destruction of warehouses around Kyiv and the hype have already led to the fact that many products have already disappeared from stores. There will most likely not be a complete shortage, but everything will become much more expensive. I am already a little worried about the cats, of which many were born this year and who are still walking freely on the streets.

Ukraine's defense industry has grown to a large scale in recent years. However, it now faces a problem that cannot be solved by simply increasing funding. Enterprises are increasingly lacking engineers, technologists, radio frequency specialists and other specialists, writes Bloomberg. Training research and development employees takes longer, which puts a premium on university-educated specialists. Since 2022, Ukrainian universities have been offering or reviving defense-related degree programs. Although defense-tech-adjacent majors saw an uptick in enrollment across universities since the full-scale invasion in 2022, the gains have not kept pace with the industry’s growing demand. In 2025, according to government data, only 671 students nationwide started bachelor’s degrees in aerospace engineering, which encompasses drone and missile manufacturing, and 464 chose chemical engineering, badly needed for explosives manufacturing. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-25/shortage-of-engineers-becomes-a-bottleneck-for-ukraine-s-defense-tech

The annual decline in the number of schoolchildren and students and the quality of education at all levels further worsen the prospects.

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov is launching a defense technology company. Its first lead investor will be Alex Karp, CEO of the American technology company Palantir, according to a press release from Fedorov's team. https://forbes.ua/news/eks-ministr-fedorov-zapuskae-novu-oboronnu-kompaniyu-golovniy-investor-ceo-palantir-aleks-karp-01092026-41644

Some consider the use and disclosure of all the information that was available to the former Minister of Defense to be a violation of military secrets and treason, but who really cares...

The US President's special representatives Steve Vitkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in the russian capital. The plane carrying the US representatives landed at Moscow's Vnukovo airport.
https://fakty.com.ua/ua/svit/20260905-spetspredstavnyky-ssha-vitkoff-i-kushner-prybuly-do-moskvy/

Although on September 1st, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky warned airlines and insurance companies that the presence of Ukrainian ‌drones had made russian skies dangerous to use and that they were effectively closed. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/zelenskiy-says-ukrainian-drones-have-effectively-closed-russian-airspace-2026-09-01
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9v9yydy2wvo

On September 4, a new banknote with a denomination of 2,000 hryvnias (approximately $45) entered circulation in Ukraine. Previously, the largest denomination was 1,000 hryvnias. The National Bank cited three main reasons for introducing the new banknote this year:
First, since the introduction of the 1,000-hryvnia banknote seven years ago, the average monthly salary in Ukraine has tripled, and the price level based on the inflation index has doubled. This has led to the need for more cash.
Second, the volume of cash in circulation has more than doubled - from almost 390 billion hryvnias in 2019 to over 970 billion hryvnias as of July 1, 2026. The increased demand for cash was led, in particular, by wartime needs.
Third, there have been changes in the structure of cash in circulation - the share of 1,000-hryvnia banknotes in terms of amount has already exceeded 55%. In global central banking practice, this indicates the need to introduce a banknote of a higher denomination. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/articles/c80471z81zjo