Western Ukraine’s cultural and administrative hub
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has carried out a surprise cabinet reshuffle that has removed defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, nominated Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister and named SBU head Yevhenii Khmara as acting defence minister. The moves have provoked mass protests in Kyiv and other cities, prompted at least one senior military resignation and raised questions about unity in Kyiv’s war effort.
Ukraine has replaced its commander-in-chief and appointed Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new head of the armed forces amid political upheaval and protests over the removal of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Zelenskyy says unity requires change, while protests demand Fedorov’s return; Drapatyi pledges intensified offensive planning and modernization.
Ukrainian drone strikes have damaged Russian oil infrastructure, triggering fuel shortages across the country. Authorities report production hiccups, rationing in some regions, and attempts to stabilise supplies amid heightened price pressures. The government has sanctioned imports and redirected shipments to mitigate the impact.
UN rights monitors document a sharp rise in civilian deaths and injuries in the first half of 2026 as Russia and Ukraine widen strikes. FPV drones are reshaping daily life near front lines, while attacks on shipping and oil depots widen the conflict’s reach.
Poland has found debris and a 10m crater near Tarnawa-Kolonia after an object that Polish and NATO radars tracked disappeared from airspace and crashed; Warsaw and NATO say evidence points to a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile that crossed into Polish airspace during a large overnight Russian strike on Ukraine that has killed at least eight people.
Ukraine has reported that Russian forces have fired ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea in overnight strikes that hit Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk and other regions, killing civilians and wounding dozens. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia has received more missiles and is preparing to deploy more North Korean troops, and Kyiv is pressing allies for air-defence supplies. (11 Aug 2026)
Since mid-July Ukrainian forces have struck more than a dozen Wildberries warehouses and other industrial sites deep inside Russia. Overnight strikes have hit a Wildberries warehouse in Samara and facilities across the Volga and southern regions, killing dozens on both sides, while Moscow says it downed hundreds of Ukrainian drones.
Kyiv has warned that interceptor stocks are depleted amid Russia’s intensified ballistic missile and drone attacks, with remnants of air defence proving insufficient to down incoming missiles. Kyiv is urging partners to release more interceptors from stockpiles as it pivots toward a European air-defence framework.
Ukrainian drone operators are increasingly using AI-assisted autonomy to track targets when signal links fail, while broader drone programs expand with Western tech. Operators emphasize safety for human crews as robots take on more tasks.
Japan has bolstered its military capabilities, prioritizing domestic drone development and long-range missiles as deterrence against China. Cabinet defence paper stresses speed, expanded arms production, and a shift toward homemade unmanned weapons to offset a shrinking workforce.
Ukraine has reported intensified Russian missile and drone attacks across Kyiv and other cities. Zelensky has urged partners to accelerate air-defence deliveries, citing casualties and the mounting strain on Ukraine’s defensive network. NATO and US officials warn the war could intensify this winter.