Ukrainian police report a sharp rise in Russian recruitment of Ukrainians for sabotage, terrorist attacks, and killings since 2024. Since early 2026, 31 terrorist attacks have been registered, 80% solved, with 14 prevented. Eleven poisoning cases targeting military personnel are under investigation. Russian handlers use Telegram channels, fake SBU calls, and personal manipulation, including minors, to gradually involve recruits in serious crimes.

Ukraine's sanctions policy commissioner Vladyslav Vlasiuk announced that recent sanctions from the UK, EU, Canada, New Zealand, and Switzerland target Russian financial, energy, and defense sectors, including Ozon Bank, India's Frion Ship Management LLP, and executives of missile production plants. Canada blocked Streit Group, and New Zealand sanctioned cyber entities and supporters in Iran and North Korea. Vlasiuk emphasized the need to analyze Russian adaptation to prepare future sanctions packages, aiming to deny Russia time to adapt.

UNICEF, with financial support from Germany, Norway, Sweden, the UK, and the US, will provide UAH 2,012,792,601 in cash assistance to vulnerable families in frontline areas of Ukraine. Over 104,000 households will receive a one-time payment of UAH 19,400 to support children and caregivers during the winter months. The funds will be transferred to Ukraine's Humanitarian Response and Resilience Account at the National Bank of Ukraine, as part of ongoing humanitarian efforts amid the war.

Ukraine received the bodies of 261 fallen soldiers from Russia on 13 August, as part of ongoing repatriation efforts coordinated by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, with assistance from the ICRC and multiple Ukrainian agencies. The remains will undergo forensic identification. This handover continues a series of transfers since mid-2025, with thousands of bodies returned, making repatriation one of the few functioning channels between Kyiv and Moscow. Since late June, investigators have conducted mandatory safety checks for explosive devices in returned remains. Subsequent transfers included 1,000 bodies on 19 August, 18 September, 23 October, and 20 November 2025, 1,003 on 19 December 2025, 1,000 on 26 February 2026, 1,000 on 9 April 2026, 522 on 18 June 2026, and 501 on 16 July 2026.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing difficulty finding a suitable candidate to serve as ambassador to the United States, a critical post during the war and with the Trump administration. The previous envoy, Olga Stefanishyna, was dismissed amid embezzlement charges. Zelensky's first choice for the post, former Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, declined the ambassadorship, disrupting his reshuffle plans. Other potential candidates have also been hesitant, with opposition lawmaker Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze noting that candidates may lack the president's trust or ear. A former Ukrainian diplomat said there are people who want the job but none who measure up. Zelensky had hoped to appoint someone at the level of deputy prime minister, minister, or prime minister. The vacancy comes at a time when Kyiv needs strong representation in Washington to secure military aid, air defense systems, and navigate potential peace negotiations. The post may remain vacant until after the US midterm elections, according to opposition lawmaker Yaroslav Yurchyshyn. The ambassador will need to lobby US lawmakers on weapons, air defense, intelligence sharing, and navigate potential peace negotiations. The vacancy is critical as Ukraine faces a winter of Russian attacks and a shortage of air defense missiles, with deliveries from allies down two-thirds compared with 2025.

Finland will provide €28.5 million ($33.2 million) to support new power generation in Ukraine, with Finnish company Wärtsilä supplying equipment for power plants to be manufactured in Vaasa. The total project value is €46.5 million, with Ukraine covering the rest. This aims to strengthen Ukraine's distributed generation capacity ahead of expected Russian attacks on energy infrastructure during the 2026-27 winter. The funding comes through the Finland–Ukraine Investment Facility with a 100% export guarantee from Finnvera.

Ukrainian companies MAC HUB and Sky Defenders have signed a memorandum to integrate Sky Defenders UAVs into the Katran family of uncrewed surface vessels, extending Ukraine's strike reach to 2,000 km into Russian coastal territory. This builds on the earlier Katran X1.2 drone carrier USV, which was designed to launch interceptor drones against Russian Shahed drones. Sky Defenders develops combat uncrewed systems, including the Zigzag-S medium-range tactical strike UAV with a range over 150 km, top speed 250 km/h, and a 3-5 kg warhead. The collaboration also involves integrating machine-learning modules for target trajectory prediction and AI-autolock. The Black Sea Legion's commander 'Deviatyi' stated plans to target coastal defenses, radar, air defense systems, command personnel, and critical infrastructure near water bodies. The Katran family has an operational range over 1,500 km and can carry various drones, including the Katran X3 with a 300 kg warhead. The new collaboration aims to leverage these capabilities for deep strikes against Russian coastal targets.

Background: Ukraine's sanctions envoy Vladyslav Vlasiuk has been urging the EU to tighten anti-circumvention measures against Russia. In a television broadcast, Vlasiuk praised Canada and the UK as leaders in the number and quality of sanctions decisions against Russia over the past year, crediting direct negotiations with Ukraine for many Canadian measures. He also highlighted New Zealand and Australia as active coalition members and vowed that all significant Russian defense enterprises will eventually be sanctioned globally. He expects further sanctions on Russian defense enterprises globally and noted ongoing dialogue with New Zealand and Australia for additional measures. Canada recently imposed sanctions on a UAE-based weapons manufacturer supplying military equipment to Russia.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha thanked Estonia for allocating EUR 340,000 to help Ukraine prepare for winter, and Moldova for facilitating transit of Ukrainian agricultural goods through Solidarity Lanes. Ukrainian and Moldovan prime ministers agreed on a 50% discount on rail transit rates for Ukrainian cargo from August 10 through end of 2026, with up to 600,000 tonnes of agricultural products to be transported. This support is crucial as Russia attacks Ukrainian ports and trade routes, making alternative export routes vital for Ukraine's resilience and global food security.

Background: Poland's Defense Minister confirmed a previous transfer of Patriot missiles to Ukraine, sparking domestic political controversy. Today, Poland is poised to send another batch of Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, with a decision expected within days. Deputy Defense Minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said the decision, coordinated with the US and NATO, follows a Russian missile incident on Polish territory on 30 July and is supported by Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who prefers to intercept threats over Ukraine. Poland previously transferred five PAC-3 MSE interceptors in spring, confirmed in July. The move faces domestic opposition, with former Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak calling it unacceptable, while Deputy Minister Cezary Tomczyk dismissed such criticism, arguing it would not weaken Poland's defense. The decision comes amid strained Polish-Ukrainian relations over historical issues, but aid continues under the Tusk government.

Russian forces attacked an industrial facility in Zaporizhzhia, according to the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, Ivan Fedorov. Preliminary reports indicate no casualties. An air raid alert was issued due to the threat of Russian attack drones. This attack follows a major strike on the Zaporizhstal steel plant on August 11 that killed seven people and suspended operations.

On 13 August, the Ukrainian-Crimean Tatar partisan group ATESH claimed its agents disabled a communications tower near Pylna in northern Kharkiv Oblast, disrupting links between two Russian motor rifle regiments (345th and 380th) near the border. The attack is part of a broader Ukrainian resistance campaign targeting Russian communications, transport, and fuel infrastructure behind the front lines. The claim has not been independently verified.

In an exclusive BBC interview, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Novaya Gazeta editor Dmitry Muratov said President Putin can no longer claim victory in Ukraine, arguing that a war that has 'ripped a million people to shreds' cannot be considered a victory. He described the crackdown on free speech in Russia, with at least 1,500 people imprisoned for opposing the war, and expressed concern about nuclear rhetoric on state media. He dismissed speculation about elite splits, saying Putin retains a tight grip on power.

Ukraine's 425th Separate Assault Regiment Skelia is being placed under the operational command of the 1st National Guard Corps Azov as part of Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi's broader military reforms. The move consolidates Skelia's scattered units under a single command, with Azov directing combat employment while Skelia remains a separate formation. This follows investigations into 25 non-combat deaths and abuse allegations, with 103 criminal proceedings opened in 2026. The reorganization aims to improve command efficiency and address personnel imbalances in Ukraine's armed forces.

Background: North Korea has earned billions from arms sales and troop deployments to Russia, funding economic growth and military modernization. Today: A new report by the South Korean Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS) estimates North Korea earned between $7.7 billion and $14.4 billion from munitions sales and troop deployments to Russia, while Bloomberg Economics estimates over $14 billion from 2022 to 2025. Additional revenue of $8 billion came from trade with China, worker deployments, exports, and cybercrime, including the $1.5 billion ByBit hack. The regime has used these funds for construction in Pyongyang, including 50,000 new apartments, a major hospital, a hothouse, and the Wonsan-Kalma beach resort. Kim Jong Un has announced plans to station an additional 30,000-50,000 troops in Russia, and a missile unit of 90 soldiers with six launch pads and up to 120 missiles is being prepared for transfer. Monthly payments per soldier are $2,800, with $3,000 for officers and $6,000-$10,000 per killed soldier. Russia provides crude oil, grain, and military technology in exchange. The economic boom is not reaching the general population, with rising food prices and won devaluation, and the 20x10 regional development program is largely failing due to lack of infrastructure and planned-economy inefficiencies.

Japan's outgoing ambassador to Ukraine, Masashi Nakagome, held meetings with senior Ukrainian officials, including Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivsky, NSDC Secretary Ihor Klymenko, and Minister for Recovery Mykola Kalashnyk. Discussions covered Japan's potential participation in the Drone Deal initiative, energy security, infrastructure reconstruction, and winter preparations. Japan has provided significant aid, including a $1.3 billion grant and equipment for emergency services. The meetings underscore deepening bilateral cooperation amid ongoing Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

On August 13, Elisabeth Braw, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Transatlantic Security Initiative, was interviewed by the New York Times about Russia's attacks on Ukrainian merchant shipping. The interview underscores the persistent dangers to commercial maritime operations in the Black Sea, a critical artery for global trade, and reflects broader security challenges facing NATO and its partners amid the ongoing conflict. The interview highlights ongoing threats to commercial maritime activities in the Black Sea region, emphasizing the impact on global trade and security.

Background: Ukraine's parliament has been considering a bill to strictly regulate commercial surrogacy and effectively ban foreign intended parents, who make up 95% of clients, amid ethical concerns and exploitation fears. Today: The parliament has formally registered the bill (No. 15507), which proposes restricting surrogacy to Ukrainian citizens with residency requirements, banning foreigners unless one spouse is Ukrainian, introducing new registration rules, a unified state register, and criminal liability for violations. The bill aims to protect children's rights and prevent illegal child removal abroad. The bill specifies that surrogacy would be permitted only if both spouses (or one, in legally defined cases) are Ukrainian citizens with permanent residency in Ukraine for at least three years prior to the agreement. It bans foreigners and stateless persons unless one spouse is Ukrainian. New registration rules require documents confirming at least one genetic parent is a Ukrainian citizen and a healthcare facility certificate of legal compliance. The bill also clarifies that surrogacy agreements or births in Ukraine do not grant foreigners or stateless persons residency or stay extensions. It mandates a transitional period, with the law applying only after criminal liability for violations is established, and a nine-month grace period for existing foreign agreements. The Cabinet must create a Unified State Register of Surrogacy Agreements within three months of publication.

Background: On July 16, 2026, Ukrainian drones struck Russia's Engels-2 strategic airbase, destroying a Tu-95 bomber, as confirmed by satellite imagery. Today, the SBU has disclosed that the drone used was the MICH 2000, a Ukrainian-made attack drone evolved from the Chinese ZTK-150. The MICH 2000, costing $48,000 in its basic configuration, has a 2,000 km range and can carry a warhead weighing 25 to 60 kg. It is used exclusively by the SBU's Special Operations Center 'Alpha'. The drone's development began after China restricted exports of civilian drones in 2023; Ukrainian developers initially traveled to China to buy them, but the factory refused to sell the production technology. They instead trained pilots and brought back eight Chinese drones, which served as the basis for the MICH 2000. The manufacturer produces 6,000 MICH 2000s annually and aims to increase output to 10,000. There are at least eight versions, customizable with different communication systems, warheads, fuel tanks, and navigation options. The strike on Engels-2 destroyed a Tu-95 bomber, reducing Russia's operational Tu-95 fleet to an estimated 43, with only about a dozen active at any time. The SBU claims the drone completely tore off the tail of the bomber, which had been used for missile strikes on Ukraine. This raid is part of a broader Ukrainian campaign to degrade Russia's long-range strike capabilities, including recent strikes on Russian warships in Novorossiysk.

A Russian military officer, identified as Captain 1st Rank Robert Shageev, was killed on August 13 by an explosive device hidden in a trash bin in Sevastopol, occupied Crimea. Shageev, a former Ukrainian Navy officer who defected to Russia after the 2014 annexation, served as deputy commander of the Black Sea Fleet's 4th Separate Submarine Brigade. Russia's FSB detained a Russian woman suspected of involvement, alleging she acted on Ukrainian intelligence instructions. Ukraine has not commented. The attack highlights ongoing resistance in occupied territories and the targeting of military personnel linked to Russia's invasion.

Ukraine's Defence Intelligence identified Jeric Jumadil Undol, a Filipino national who signed a one-year contract with the Russian army and was killed in late May during an assault near Katerinivka in the Donetsk region. Undol arrived in Moscow in April and received training before being deployed to the front line. Ukrainian officials noted that about 14 Philippine citizens have signed contracts with Russian forces, with at least two killed and one captured, highlighting the risks for foreign fighters recruited by Russia.

A Ukrainian border guard, Mykhailo, of the rapid-response unit Shkval, held a position in the contested Serebryanskyi forest on the Luhansk-Donetsk border for 115 days starting October 2024, enduring constant drone attacks and difficult logistics. The forest has been contested since 2022. The account highlights the endurance and brotherhood required to hold static positions on a drone-saturated front.

In the first seven months of 2026, Moldova overtook Poland and Germany as the largest foreign buyer of Ukrainian dairy products, according to the Association of Milk Producers. Ukrainian dairy exports fell by nearly a fifth in value year-on-year, while imports rose by over a third, as falling European wholesale prices made EU sales unprofitable. Cheap EU cheese, much of it declared as humanitarian aid, now supplies over half of Ukraine's cheese market, costing the state budget at least 730 million hryvnias ($16 million) annually. The shift highlights the impact of EU price dynamics on Ukraine's dairy trade and the challenges faced by domestic producers.

In Odesa, Ukraine, residents continue their daily routines despite the constant threat of bombings, illustrating the stark contrast between normalcy and conflict. The article underscores the resilience of the city's people as they navigate life under wartime conditions.