Zelensky orders Ukrainian military to attack Russia with ‘1,000 drones a day’On The Ground Newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch of international news Russia’s Defense Ministry has announced that it is preparing “massive strikes” against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in retaliation for a kyiv drone campaign attacking warehouses and oil and gas facilities. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the move would be an “appropriate response” to Ukraine’s “path of escalation” and said Moscow had been “quite systematic” in attacking kyiv’s military infrastructure. Ukraine has attacked online retailers Wildberries, often called Russia’s Amazon, and Ozon, accusing the companies of selling products that have helped the military, says they deny it. This comes as a missile attack killed two people and wounded 16 in the city of Belgorod, near the Russian border with Ukraine, acting governor Alexander Shuvayev said. Sunday’s deaths followed Ukraine’s attack on a commercial facility, which also set fire to seven warehouses in the city, he said. Meanwhile, CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly floated a trilateral meeting between Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump during his mysterious visit to Moscow, according to two sources briefed on the matter cited by Axios. Talks between Ukraine and Russia were suspended in February when the United States invaded Iran, and little progress has been made since then. See: Moment Putin launches a nuclear-capable missile in warning to the WestMoment Putin launches a nuclear-capable missile in warning to the WestArpan RaiAugust 31, 2026 07:00Navy tracks Russian warships in the English Channel during ‘intense’ operation The Navy has tracked Russian warships through UK waters in an “intense” 72-hour operation. A task group was followed by the Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, the Type 23 frigate HMS St Albans and the patrol ship HMS Severn as it headed from the North Sea through the English Channel. The Russian destroyer Admiral Levchenko was observed escorting the sanctioned cargo ships General Skobelev and Sparta, with a Merlin helicopter extending UK surveillance as the ships approached the Strait of Dover. In response to the tracking, Russia deployed other military assets, including the Frigate Neustrashimy to protect the illegal shipment, UK officials said. First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said there was “no room for complacency” as shadow fleet ships continue to pose “an unacceptable risk” to maritime security and the environment. “Together with our allies, this approach is forcing Moscow to divert Russian warships from their primary purpose. This is because Russia knows that we are ready to act again, if necessary,” he said. Arpan RaiAugust 31, 2026 06:37CIA director proposed summit between Trump, Putin and ZelenskyThe CIA director had proposed a meeting between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine and the United States when he visited Moscow, sources say. During his secret meeting with Russian officials, CIA Director John Ratcliffe had proposed a summit with Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump, Axios reported. It comes after talks between Ukraine and Russia were paused in February, when the United States invaded Iran. with negotiators from both sides in recent months, but little progress has been made. Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukraine office, said this week that talks with Russia could resume in September. Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow on Tuesday, which was not announced in advance, has sparked much speculation. President Trump downplayed the visit, saying it was “semi-routine.” Arpan RaiAugust 31, 2026 06:35 NATO sees no imminent threat of “As always, NATO remains vigilant and alert to the variety of threats we face. At this time, we do not see any imminent threat of attack,” the official said, adding: “We continue.” CIA Director John Ratcliffe flew to Russia on Tuesday to meet briefly with his intelligence counterparts. Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Ratcliffe mentioned the possibility of a Russian operation against a NATO member during that meeting, although it was not clear if that was the sole purpose of the trip. On Saturday, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said NATO must be prepared for various scenarios and that a provocation against a member of the alliance could not be ruled out. The Kremlin had called the reports “scary stories” earlier in the week. Arpan Rai August 31, 2026 06:32 Two killed in missile attack on Belgorod in Russia A missile attack killed two people and injured 16 in the city of Belgorod, near the Russian border with Ukraine, acting governor Alexander Shuvayev said. Sunday’s deaths followed Ukraine’s attack on a commercial facility. which also set fire to seven warehouses in the city, he added. Russian online retailer Ozon said on Telegram that a logistics center and sorting facility in Belgorod were also attacked, causing a fire and injuring people. It was not immediately clear whether Shuvayev and Ozon were referring to the same facilities. Arpan RaiAugust 31, 2026 06:09 Russia promises “massive” “massive attacks” against Ukraine’s energy sector Russia’s Defense Ministry in Moscow said yesterday that it is preparing “massive attacks” against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. He described the planned attacks in retaliation for kyiv’s drone campaign against Russian online retailers Wildberries and Ozon, as well as the country’s oil and gas sector. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector would be “an appropriate response” to what he called the “path of escalation” and targeting Russia’s civilian economy. Peskov told Russian state television that Moscow has been launching “fairly systematic” attacks on what he called kyiv’s military and war-related infrastructure. During the previous winters of the war, Russia systematically hit Ukraine’s power grid, depriving thousands of people of heat and light. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that the coming winter may prove the most challenging since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Arpan RaiAugust 31, 2026 04:33 Russia’s deadliest attack on Ukraine this year killed 38 people, Zelensky says. The death toll from a Russian attack on a warehouse west of kyiv, the deadliest attack of the war this year, has risen to 38 and four people are still missing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The Friday night attack on the warehouse, which Ukrainian officials said was storing ammunition, sparked massive explosions and fires that leveled dozens of nearby homes and buildings in the village of Myla. Arpan RaiAugust 31, 2026 04:15 NATO moves in the Arctic represent a ‘direct threat’ to Russia, says Foreign Minister Lavrov. Russia views NATO activity in the Arctic as a direct security threat, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an article published this morning, as alliance members increase their presence in the region in the wake of Russia’s war against Ukraine. In February, NATO launched a mission called Arctic Sentry to bolster its presence in the far north, underscoring the alliance’s increased focus on the Arctic amid tensions with Russia and the United States. But Russia has the largest military presence and most extensive military infrastructure in the Arctic and in recent years China has begun to increase its activity in the mineral-rich area, mainly in partnership with Moscow. NATO military exercises in the region are “aggressive.” “This military activity in the Far North poses direct threats to Russia’s security. The risks of incidents that could trigger an armed confrontation, with potentially catastrophic consequences, are increasing,” he stated in the article published by the Russian Foreign Ministry. Russia, which has a naval fleet including nuclear-armed submarines in the Arctic, sees the region as its sphere of interest, where a sea route to connect with Asian nations is also being developed.Arpan RaiAugust 31, 2026 03:55Ukraine’s defense chief asks to advance part of EU loan to cover shortfallUkraine wants to advance part of an EU loan set aside for next year to help cover a budget deficit of $27 billion this year, Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara said. Speaking to reporters, he added that kyiv’s war plan must be clear to Ukraine’s partners as well as the entire military chain of command. Khmara also said Ukraine has tested four potential interceptors to shoot down the aircraft-powered drones that Russia is increasingly firing at Ukraine. Maira ButtAugust 31, 2026 03:00 What is the real reason CIA chief John Ratcliffe made a secret trip to Moscow? Earlier this week, a C17A Globemaster III descended at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport. Although coming from Riga, Latvia, the plane had departed from Andrews Air Force Base, near Washington, DC. On board was John Ratcliffe, director of the CIA. After being taken to the Russian capital in a caravan, a few hours later, Ratcliffe was back in the air and on his way home. It was unclear who Ratcliffe met. The visit had not been announced in advance in the US, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed to have no knowledge or information about the arrival of a US Air Force plane. Not surprisingly, there was much speculation about why the most senior US intelligence figure had gone to Moscow in person. After all, if Ratcliffe had an important message to share or communicate, there were easier and safer ways to do it than spending hours on a plane traveling to Russia. Maira ButtAugust 31, 2026 02:00
