On 7 August, a Russian strike destroyed a World Health Organization (WHO) humanitarian warehouse in Dnipro, Ukraine, that stored medical supplies intended for frontline healthcare facilities. No casualties were reported, as staff had evacuated 130 of approximately 300 pallets before the attack. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned the attack, noting that the WHO has verified 3,148 strikes on Ukrainian healthcare facilities since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, resulting in 240 deaths and 1,055 injuries. The incident highlights the ongoing risks to humanitarian operations and the critical need to protect healthcare infrastructure in conflict zones.

On the night of 8-9 August, Russian forces struck Zhytomyr Oblast, heavily damaging the Kromberg & Schubert plant, a German-owned manufacturer of wiring harnesses for Volkswagen, Škoda, and MAN. The attack forced the plant to suspend operations indefinitely, with no employees injured but extensive damage to production lines and infrastructure. Three people were injured in the broader strike, which also hit civilian infrastructure. The plant, employing about 3,500 people, is a major regional employer, and its shutdown underscores Russia's targeting of foreign-owned factories to undermine Ukraine's wartime economy.

Russian strikes on the Odesa region have temporarily restricted traffic on the Odesa–Reni highway, blocking access to certain border crossings with Moldova and travel toward Odesa. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine advised citizens to plan trips accordingly. The overnight attack involved ballistic missiles and drones, causing casualties and infrastructure damage.

Background: Peru's Attorney General's Office had formally launched an investigation into a human trafficking network that recruited hundreds of Peruvian citizens for the Russian military with false promises of high salaries, leading to at least 13 confirmed deaths. Today: Peru's Foreign Ministry reported on August 10, 2026, that 11 Peruvian citizens have been killed and 114 are missing after joining the Russia-Ukraine war, with 459 officially identified as participants. Three were captured by Ukrainian forces. The ministry also noted that 31 Peruvians had been evacuated from Russia, and consular sections are handling repatriation cases. Families of Peruvians in the Russian army protested outside the Russian Embassy in Lima, demanding information and repatriation of wounded relatives. Peru has requested assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross to locate missing citizens. The ministry warned against fake job offers linked to human trafficking and reminded citizens that official authorization is required to serve in foreign armed forces.

Russian security forces conducted illegal raids on Crimean Tatar homes in several settlements in northern Crimea, as well as searches and detentions at a mosque on the southern coast, according to Refat Chubarov, chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People. Chubarov urged affected individuals to report violations, stating that the Russian occupation authorities fear exposure of their crimes. The raids highlight ongoing threats to the indigenous Crimean Tatar population under Russian occupation.

On the sixth anniversary of Belarus's 2020 protests, Ukraine's Acting Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha issued a statement reaffirming Kyiv's support for the Belarusian opposition and condemning the Lukashenko regime's repression and its role in enabling Russia's war against Ukraine. Sybiha stressed Ukraine's distinction between the Belarusian people and the regime, pledged continued cooperation with opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and expressed hope for a free, democratic, and European Belarus. The statement comes amid ongoing repression in Belarus, with over 100,000 cases of repression recorded and hundreds of political prisoners still detained.

Background: Ukrenergo previously forecast no power outages for Sunday and Monday, August 2-3, 2026, following Russian strikes on energy infrastructure. On August 10, Ukrenergo announced no restrictions for Monday, August 10, and reported that energy workers had restored power to 90,000 consumers in Odesa and the region after a Russian attack on August 9. The company urged consumers to conserve electricity, especially between 10:00 and 16:00.

Background: Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called for Russia's defeat in Ukraine as a necessary condition for Belarus's freedom, urging European allies to include Belarus in negotiations. Today: Nearly six years after the 2020 uprising, the Belarusian democratic opposition remains in exile, building a proto-government and preparing for regime change. Unlike Poland's Solidarity, which had roots inside the country and a divided regime, Belarus's opposition lacks internal organization and faces a stable Lukashenko regime backed by Moscow. Recent prisoner releases have exposed divisions, and the opposition awaits a regime split or Russian weakness to act.

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called for an end to Russia's war against Ukraine, citing the growing number of civilian casualties, including children. He appealed for respect of international humanitarian law and for attacks against civilian targets to cease on both sides. The UN reports over 16,000 civilian deaths in nearly four and a half years of conflict, with a recent rise in casualties due to drone attacks.

Kosovo's capital Prishtina removed a Ukrainian flag from a central building on 9 August after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during his visit to Serbia, reaffirmed Ukraine's non-recognition of Kosovo's unilateral independence. Mayor Përparim Rama ordered the removal, stating that Kosovo's statehood must be respected. The incident highlights tensions between Kosovo's quest for recognition and Ukraine's alignment with Serbia on territorial integrity, which also includes support for Ukraine's sovereignty over Crimea.

Tenby Powell, founder of New Zealand charity Kiwi K.A.R.E, has been awarded Ukraine's Order of Merit by Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko on behalf of President Volodymyr Zelensky. The honor recognizes the charity's sustained frontline humanitarian efforts since 2022, including evacuating over 7,000 people, distributing 8,000 stoves, and delivering 3,500 tonnes of medical aid. The charity has faced repeated attacks by Russian drones, with three ambulances destroyed. Powell emphasized the collective effort of his team and donors, noting the charity operates without New Zealand government funding.

Ukraine's State Property Fund announced it will hold 43 online auctions for state property leases next week, including 22 new lease agreements and 21 extensions. Notable lots include an administrative building in Kyiv and a sawmill in Ivano-Frankivsk. In July 2026, the fund held 111 auctions, with 84 completed successfully, securing UAH 1,022,845 in lease payments. From January to June 2026, the fund generated nearly UAH 3.45 billion in budget revenues, with state property leases accounting for UAH 494.27 million.

Background: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously warned that Russia was requesting an additional 30,000 North Korean troops and new ballistic-missile launchers for autumn operations. Today: In an August 8 interview, Zelensky raised the estimate to 30,000-50,000 North Korean soldiers, up from his July estimate of 30,000. He stated that North Korean soldiers are 'studying this war' to gain modern warfare experience, and that Pyongyang will receive licenses and military technology from Moscow. Zelensky confirmed that North Korean missiles have been found on Ukrainian territory. He called for closer cooperation with South Korea, specifically requesting air defense systems and proposing a 'Drone Deal,' while acknowledging Seoul's constitutional restrictions. Separately, Zelensky warned that Putin is planning a covert mass mobilization of up to 500,000 Russians without formal announcement, using shadow contracts and border closures, to exert psychological pressure on Ukraine and Europe. He also reported a massive power outage in Odesa affecting over 300,000 households following a Russian attack, and announced Ukraine's purchase of 70 ATACMS missiles and other artillery from Turkey in a $283 million deal.

Background: Ukraine is accelerating development of its own ballistic missiles and a European anti-ballistic defense system, with Zelensky setting a target of concrete results by 2026–27, following a Russian attack that killed 17 in Kyiv. In an overnight attack on August 8, Russia launched six Iskander ballistic missiles, S-400 missiles, and 151 drones against Ukraine. The strikes killed four people, including a three-year-old boy in Pukhivka, Kyiv region, and injured several others, including the child's parents, a 15-year-old brother, and a neighbor. A separate ballistic missile strike on civilian infrastructure in Kyiv killed one person. Zelensky reiterated his call for Western allies to deliver interceptor missiles for Patriot, SAMP/T, NASAMS, Hawk, and F-16s to Ukraine, emphasizing that these systems save lives when deployed in Ukraine rather than stored abroad. He also urged new sanctions to halt Russian missile production.

On the morning of 9 August, Russian forces struck residential high-rise buildings in Kharkiv's Saltivskyi district, destroying floors six through nine of one building and hitting a neighboring high-rise. Two men, aged 50 and 66, were killed, and at least 21 people were injured, including a five-year-old boy. A third strike hit a nearby park. Rescue operations are ongoing, with crews clearing rubble to check for trapped residents. The attack is part of continued Russian strikes on civilian areas in Kharkiv, which has faced repeated aerial assaults.

Background: The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has experienced repeated power losses since the 2022 invasion, with the 19th blackout in June 2026 lasting 65 hours. On August 8, 2026, the plant lost external power twice, at 10:59 and 14:26, each time briefly relying on diesel generators. The first outage was caused by a disconnection of the 330 kV L-243 Ferosplavna–ZTPP No. 1 line, which was automatically reconnected at 11:52. The second outage was resolved by 15:35 when the plant's own needs were reconnected to the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 line. Energoatom reported that this was the 12th blackout in 2026 and the 24th since the Russian seizure, with half of all blackouts occurring this year. The company reiterated that the illegal Russian control of the plant remains a constant threat to nuclear and radiation safety.