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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly rejected former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov's call for elections during wartime, warning they would be a 'tsunami' that could destroy the country. The dispute highlights growing internal political tensions as Russia continues its offensive and Ukraine faces missile shortages and funding gaps.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak highlighted a structural shift toward domestic investment financing and the domestic market, citing Russia's fourth-place global ranking by purchasing power parity. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov detailed regional debt relief measures, while officials outlined plans for tourism, creative industries, and a new investment cycle.
Serbia has requested and received firefighting assistance from both the European Union and Russia as wildfires burn in the Deliblatska Pescara nature reserve and elsewhere. EU helicopters and crews are joining Serbian teams, while a Russian Il-76 water-bombing aircraft has been operating since mid-August. The blazes have also forced evacuations and road closures across the region.
At a Council for Strategic Development and National Projects meeting on August 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the country's economic growth as modest but positive, with GDP rising around 1%. He also called for strengthening sovereignty through improved efficiency in defense, security, and the socioeconomic sphere, and instructed the government to review investment support measures.
A Ukrainian national, identified as Volodymyr Zhuravlev, was arrested in Croatia on a European warrant for his alleged role in the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions. He is the second suspect in the case, following the earlier arrest of Serhii K. The arrest has been welcomed by Germany, while Ukraine has denied involvement.
President Vladimir Putin said Russia's trade infrastructure remains resilient despite attacks he called terrorist, while Ukrainian officials report growing shortages and damage from strikes. Both sides have struck each other's grain and energy infrastructure, disrupting Black Sea shipping and raising global food supply concerns.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged 103 prisoners of war each on August 19, 2026, in a swap mediated by the United Arab Emirates. Ukrainian President Zelensky confirmed the return of servicemen from several branches, while Russian officials reported that freed soldiers were in Belarus for medical care. Another exchange is expected before the end of the month.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed calls for a wartime presidential election, saying it would split the country. The remarks, his first since former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov proposed a vote, also addressed a Starlink dispute with the Trump administration and Ukraine's missile shortages.
Recent U.S. intelligence assessments indicate Russian President Vladimir Putin could launch a limited attack against a NATO member within the next few years, according to three sources. The scenarios range from cyberattacks to small-scale incursions, with the Baltics and Poland seen as likely targets, while NATO officials remain prepared for any contingency.
Lebanon has handed over Major-General Adel Issa, a former Syrian army commander, to Damascus to face charges including murder and torture. It is the first extradition of a military officer since Bashar al-Assad was toppled in 2024, following months of pressure from Syria's new authorities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing's official visit to Russia would strengthen bilateral relations, while the Myanmar leader returned home after trips to Russia and Belarus that included high-level meetings and business forums.
Restoration work in Moscow’s Archangel Cathedral has exposed the remains of Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy after a damaged sarcophagus lid was found cracked. Russian President Vladimir Putin inspected the relics, while the Russian Orthodox Church and the Institute of Archaeology have weighed in on the discovery and its preservation.
The Russian embassy in London has warned Britain it will face unspecified “consequences” after reports that UK-made drones were used in Ukrainian attacks on targets inside Russia. Prime Minister Andy Burnham reaffirmed full British support for Kyiv, while Moscow branded London an accomplice in the campaign. The dispute follows large UK drone packages and a wave of long-range strikes on Russian energy and logistics sites.
Ukraine fired nearly 800 drones into Russia in one of its largest attacks days after a similar salvo, while a Russian missile strike on the village of Pechenihy killed at least 10 people. The aerial duel marks an escalation in the conflict, with European leaders showing support in Kyiv on Ukraine's Independence Day.
Russia's embassy in London has warned that Britain will face consequences for supplying drones used by Ukraine to strike targets on Russian territory. The warning follows a Times report that British-made drones were used in long-range attacks for the first time. Separately, a former Ukrainian minister criticized bureaucratic delays in Western weapons deliveries.
A Ukrainian drone attack on Russia was among the largest of the year, with hundreds of UAVs intercepted, while strikes on Ozon logistics centers in several regions caused fires and disrupted operations.
A New York Times investigation alleges Russia used training camps, vote-buying, cyberattacks, and priests to undermine Moldova’s pro-EU government. The report details coordinated efforts, including GRU oversight and millions in payments, ahead of the September 2025 election. Moldova’s president denounced the operation, while the Kremlin denied involvement.
Russia has received its first gasoline cargo from India, produced by Nayara Energy, as fuel shortages spread across at least 10 regions. The country is turning to seaborne imports from India, Türkiye, and Morocco after Ukrainian strikes on refineries reduced domestic supply.
Russian officials say voting in 'unfriendly' countries may face provocations and attempts to discredit the electoral process. The Central Election Commission and Foreign Ministry cite pressure on Russians abroad, Russophobic media campaigns, and logistical hurdles due to visa restrictions.
Russia has moved two warships into the Baltic Sea while a new submarine capable of carrying a nuclear tsunami-triggering torpedo began sea trials, according to reports. The deployments come amid escalating rhetoric from Moscow over Western support for Ukraine, though analysts caution that the most extreme threats are unlikely to be carried out.