Massive, Deadly Russian Strike on Kyiv Renews Calls for Providing Ukraine with all Weapons Needed to Stop Air Assaults 

The massive Russian aerial strikes on Kyiv and nearby towns demonstrated that Ukraine desperately needs the best air defense systems to stop Russian air strikes and give the country a chance to continue its relentless strikes against Russian energy stations and commercial entities.

At least 17people were killed and dozens wounded in a “massive” Russian attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region overnight and on Thursday, August 20, Ukrainian authorities said.

Attacks also crossed into Moldova and Romania on Thursday. Romania said an explosive-laden naval drone believed to have been launched by Russia targeted one of its offshore natural gas projects.

In the Ukrainian capital, strikes damaged a hospital, a school, a preschool, residential buildings and several warehouses across the city, local authorities said, as the destruction of civilian infrastructure also drew sharp international condemnation.

CNN producers in Kyiv heard several explosions and saw smoke over the city, as an air raid alert stretched on for hours. Massive fires lit up the night sky over the capital, video by Reuters news agency showed.

The attacks on Kyiv continued during the day as three separate air raid alarms sounded in the capital on Thursday.

Ukraine has been relatively successful at intercepting the massive numbers of drones that Russia uses in its large-scale attacks. But in recent weeks, Moscow has repeatedly exploited Kyiv’s near-zero stocks of Patriot interceptor missiles, which are needed to defend against faster-moving ballistic missiles.

Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 44 cruise missiles, two Banderol missiles, and 168 Shahed-type drones during the attack. It said it had intercepted 39 cruise missiles, both Banderols, and 145 drones. The military did not specify how many ballistic or hypersonic missiles were launched or intercepted in line with Ukraine's new reporting policy.

As the attack was underway, the Air Force warned of ballistic missiles heading toward the capital, as well as Russian Zircon missiles launched from Russia's Kursk Oblast in the direction of Kyiv. Amid the attack, Poland's Air Force said it scrambled fighter jets to protect Polish airspace.

Russian missiles and drones struck 28 locations, the Air Force said after the strike.

As rescue operations have progressed throughout the day, officials and emergency services reported that the death toll in Kyiv city has risen to 15 confirmed dead, with one additional fatality in the surrounding Kyiv region, bringing the total casualties for the area to 16.  

Key updates on the impact of the strike include:

Casualties & Injuries: At least 15 fatalities in Kyiv city and around 40 people injured as State Emergency Service (SES) units continue clearing rubble from damaged sites.  

Solomyanskyi District: Remains the hardest-hit location, where strikes destroyed the top floors of a nine-story residential building. 

Citywide Damage: Hits and debris have been recorded across 12 locations in the Solomyanskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, and Darnytskyi districts, impacting apartment blocks, educational facilities, warehouse space, and blowing out windows at a local children's hospital.  

Emergency crews remained on site all day to handle remaining debris and assist residents.

Both President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha issued strong statements addressing the scale of the attack, the challenge of defending against ballistic threats, and the specific actions required from international partners.  

In his evening address, Zelenskyy noted that while Ukrainian forces intercepted roughly 90% of the incoming cruise missiles, ballistic missiles (including Zircon missiles) proved significantly harder to counter.  

Scale of Destruction: He confirmed that more than 200 facilities were damaged—including 86 residential buildings, a children's hospital, and social and commercial infrastructure.  

Pledge for Counter-Operations: Zelenskyy declared that Ukraine will deliver an entirely "just and long-range response" and announced that additional resources will be directed into expanding Ukraine's own deep-strike capabilities.  

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is actively prepared to purchase additional Patriot air defense missiles directly from partners to shield civilian centers against ballistic strikes.  

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha appealed directly to international partners and the diaspora.

Acts of Barbarism vs. Acts of Humanity: Foreign Minister Sybiha framed the strike as Putin attempting to demonstrate impunity through horrific war crimes, emphasizing that “every Russian ballistic missile is an act of barbarism, and every interceptor delivered is an act of humanity.”

Ukraine’s three immediate demands

1. Transfer Air Defenses: Immediately supply or sell anti-ballistic systems and interceptors without administrative delay. 

2. Escalate Sanctions: Tighten global economic measures to dismantle Russia’s military-industrial manufacturing. 

3. Co-Develop Defense Capabilities: Build joint defense partnerships aimed specifically at anti-ballistic warfare. 

Sybiha issued a mobilization call to Ukrainian communities outside of Ukraine. He explicitly called on the Ukrainian World Congress and global diaspora organizations to raise their voices and mobilize diplomatic pressure in key international capitals immediately.

With mid-term elections approaching in the United States, Ukrainian American civic groups like the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America are preparing material that shows why helping Ukraine also helps the United States.

Reactions from Washington highlight a growing push on Capitol Hill for accelerated aid and secondary sanctions, alongside a broader shift in how the White House views Kyiv's strategic role.

Senior lawmakers on Capitol Hill—including key leaders on the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees—have explicitly cited the surge in civilian casualties from Kyiv's targeted missile barrages to demand faster release of anti-ballistic interceptors.  

Reactions from Washington highlight a growing push on Capitol Hill for accelerated aid and secondary sanctions, alongside a broader shift in how the White House views Kyiv's strategic role.

Senior lawmakers on Capitol Hill—including key leaders on the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees—have explicitly cited the surge in civilian casualties from Kyiv's targeted missile barrages to demand faster release of anti-ballistic interceptors. 

Sweeping Sanctions Package

The Senate recently advanced bipartisan legislation (passing procedural votes 86–12) designed to crack down on Russia's energy exports, financial network, and "shadow fleet". Lawmakers like Sen. Jeanne Shaheen continue pushing for final passage, emphasizing that choking off Russian energy revenues is essential to limiting Moscow’s missile production capabilities.  Following direct briefings from President Zelenskyy during his recent engagements with congressional delegations, members of both parties are leveraging the strikes to press the administration for immediate transfers of Patriot systems and associated radar equipment.

White House & Administration Dynamics

Intelligence & Deep-Strike Partnership: While the White House consistently emphasizes ending the conflict through eventual negotiations, operational cooperation between Washington and Kyiv has deepened. Defense and intelligence reports indicate that U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine has reached high levels, directly supporting Ukraine's long-range targeting of military and logistics nodes.  

Reactions from European capitals and NATO allies have focused on immediate air defense scrambling, condemnation of targeting civilian supply lines, and emergency funding measures.

NATO members immediately placed forces on high alert during the overnight bombardment. Poland mobilized domestic combat aircraft and activated regional air defense networks to secure its eastern border.  

Neutralizing Russia’s aerial capabilities—particularly the launch platforms for glide bombs (tactical aviation like Su-34/Su-35s) and strategic bombers/launchers firing cruise and ballistic missiles—remains one of Ukraine's highest operational priorities.

Doing so requires a multi-layered combination of long-range standoff strikes, air-to-air engagement, and target surveillance.

Ukrainian American voters will step up their demands at this critical time, pushing the envelope with messages equating support for Ukraine with votes in November.

Russia Hunting and Killing Unarmed Ukrainian Civilians Just for Fun

Reading about Russia’s merciless war against Ukraine, or any war, we bristle when we come across references to premeditated, gratuitous murder of civilians just for the sake of murder.

This hedonistic form of depriving a human being of life takes on a different meaning when the weapon of choice is a drone.

Ukrainian authorities said Russia killed on August 19 at least four people and injured five others in a drone attack on a minibus in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson.

Though there’s no palatable description of such a heinous crime, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described it on Wednesday as a brutal “safari” in which Russia had deliberately hunted people down.

In a Telegram post, Zelenskyy said Russia’s behavior had “long since crossed the boundaries of what a normal person can even imagine.”

“It is clear that this was a civilian bus,” Zelenskyy wrote. “This is everyday life in the Ukrainian regions near the front line.”

Zelenskyy also published several photos of the destroyed bus surrounded by pools of blood. In Kherson particularly, authorities repeatedly report such “drone safaris.”

Zelenskyy criticized Ukraine’s allies, saying they are “still hesitating to provide additional supplies of protective equipment,” and called for pressure to be “brought to bear on the aggressor. Those defending life need support.” New aid packages and further sanctions against Russia are required, he added.

This is not the first time that the United Nations member-state that holds seats at the highest forums of the international body has been caught pursuing Ukrainian civilians and then opening fire on them.

A 52-year-old Ukrainian produce vendor named Yuriy survived a terrifying Russian first-person view (FPV) drone attack in Kherson, Ukraine, on August 4, 2026.

The drone pursued Yuriy as he and his wife were unloading boxes of produce from his delivery van. Despite desperately trying to wave off the drone and holding up heads of garlic to show the operator he was a civilian merchant, the drone aggressively shadowed him around his vehicle. It eventually dove and detonated right next to him. Yuriy survived but sustained shrapnel wounds to his back and legs, a concussion, and severe shock. His wife managed to flee and escaped physical injury.

The deadly device is called “hunter drone” by Ukrainian soldiers, which is a direct translation of what Ukrainian frontline communities and humanitarian organizations refer to as Russia’s “safari-style” quadcopter/FPV drone terror.

Rather than the heavy strategic S-70 Okhotnik (“Hunter”) stealth aircraft, these attacks involve tactical FPVs and small quadcopters systematically targeting civilians, municipal transport, and bus stops in frontline regions like Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

In today’s incident, a Russian operator targeted a public bus in Kherson’s Korabelnyi district, dropping munitions directly through the roof, killing four elderly passengers and injuring five others. 

This systematic targeting of civilian routines offers a critical angle for analysis. FPV and quadcopter operators view real-time high-definition video feeds. Unlike artillery or unguided rockets, targeting a bus, a market, or a crowd at a bus stop is a conscious decision by the individual operator.

Systemic Terror (“Safari”): As documented extensively by Human Rights Watch and local authorities, Russian military operators frequently upload videos of these strikes to social media, confirming a systematic tactic aimed at rendering frontline cities uninhabitable through psychological and physical terror. 

Policy & Air Defense Implications: Small-scale tactical drone terror cannot easily be countered by conventional strategic air defenses (like Patriot or NASAMS), highlighting Ukraine’s urgent need for widespread electronic warfare (EW) systems and localized counter-drone tech at the community level.

That shift in terminology is critical—calling them “safari drones” rather than “hunter drones” captures the cruel, hunting-for-sport dynamic that defines this tactic on the ground.

When Russian operators use small, low-altitude FPVs and quadcopters, they aren’t relying on distant radar or unguided coordinates. They operate through high-resolution, real-time video feeds transmitted directly to their goggles. When a drone hovers over a bus stop, tracks an elderly passenger, or a mother with her child in a stroller, or drops a munition directly into a civilian vehicle, the operator sees every detail in high definition before pulling the trigger. And then he sees the actual murder of an innocent, defenseless, unarmed Ukrainian civilian.

Calling it a “safari” reflects two devastating realities:

Intentionality as a War Crime: There is zero ambiguity about the target. The real-time camera view eliminates any defense of “accidental targeting” or “collateral damage.” Every strike on a bus, ambulance, supermarket, church, school, or pedestrian is a deliberate execution recorded live by the operator.

Psychological Warfare: By systematically hunting civilians during routine daily errands, these strikes are designed to paralyze public life, collapse local economies, and render frontline communities completely uninhabitable through constant terror. This monstrous tactic pivots the narrative from general bombardment to individual, premeditated war crimes facilitated by low-cost technology.

Documenting the total scale of the Russian “human safari” drone campaign requires looking at local regional data alongside broader national figures, as Kherson Oblast—specifically the right-bank districts like Antonivka and Dniprovskyi—has been the central proving ground for these tactics. 

Kherson Regional Statistics: Ukrainian law enforcement and regional military administrations report that in Kherson Oblast alone, tactical drone attacks have killed over 300 civilians (including children) and injured nearly 3,000 others. 

Frequency of Attacks: Local authorities and human rights monitors documented a massive surge beginning in mid-2024. During peak months, the city recorded up to 100 to 300 drone strikes and explosive drops per day. Between July and December 2024 alone, military administration records logged over 5,000 targeted drone attacks directed at civilian spaces, public transport, and residential streets. 

United Nations human rights reports estimate that across the wider frontline terror campaign, at least 200 civilians have been killed and over 2,000 wounded specifically by short-range, operator-guided quadcopters/FPVs in the primary Kherson red zones. 

Nationwide Scope of Total FPV Casualties: Office of the Prosecutor General records indicate that nationwide, 967 civilians have been killed by Russian FPV drone strikes across all frontline regions (including Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk) since the start of the full-scale invasion. 

Key Context for Analysis of Premeditated Evidence: Investigations by Human Rights Watch and Ukrainian prosecutors analyzed over 80 public Telegram videos posted directly by Russian operators celebrating these strikes. The high-definition feeds prove operators routinely linger, track, and hover over target subjects—such as bus stops, ambulances, or individuals walking dogs—before releasing munitions. 

Prosecutorial Action: Ukrainian authorities have formally charged multiple Russian servicemen in absentia (including members of the 404th Motor Rifle Regiment) specifically for war crimes associated with short-range drone “safaris.”

The term “safari” isn’t hyperbole or sensationalism; it is a literal description of the operational mindset. In a traditional military engagement, strikes are launched against coordinates, radar signatures, or distant targets where combatants might hide behind the fog of war.

With FPV and quadcopter drops, that fog of war completely disappears:

Direct Human Sight: The operator sitting in a bunker, miles away, isn't looking at a pixelated satellite map. They are looking at a clear, real-time video feed. They can see that the person at the bus stop is carrying groceries, that the vehicle is a marked city bus, or that the person on the street is elderly.

The Choice to Engage: Because these drones can linger, hover, and maneuver around obstacles, the operator has total control over the moment of execution. They track a human target, follow their movements, and consciously choose to press the button, and finally observe their death.

Cruelty as Sport: What makes it truly diabolical is the sadism documented by human rights groups and prosecutors: operators frequently post these feeds to Telegram channels with music overlaid, treating the deliberate murder of an unarmed civilian like a video game highlight or a trophy hunt.

It transforms low-cost technology from a tool of reconnaissance into an instrument of pure, unadulterated cold-blooded murder.

This is the total absence of combat necessity paired with the deliberate, high-definition decision to kill – is what strips away any possible diplomatic ambiguity for Western readers.

The High-Definition Execution: Why Russia’s Drone “Safaris” Are Pure War Crimes

The language we use to describe war often falls back on familiar euphemisms—“collateral damage,” “fog of war,” or “imprecise strikes.” But in the streets of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and frontline communities across Ukraine, a terrifyingly explicit reality has emerged that defies these conventional terms: the Russian “human safari.”

This is not a term coined for dramatic effect; it is a literal description of tactics on the ground. Unlike artillery shells or unguided rockets launched at distant grid coordinates, short-range FPV (First-Person View) drones and quadcopters operate through high-definition, real-time video feeds transmitted directly to the pilot's goggles.

When a Russian drone hovers over a bus stop, tracks an elderly pedestrian carrying groceries, or follows a civilian commuter vehicle, the operator sitting in a bunker miles away sees everything in clear detail. There is no fog of war. There is no mistaking a civilian for a combatant.

When the munition is released, or the kamikaze drone detonates, it is the result of a deliberate, cold-blooded decision made in real time. The operator sees the human face, evaluates the total lack of military threat, and chooses to kill anyway.

What makes this campaign truly diabolical is the sadism that accompanies it. Russian military channels routinely upload high-resolution footage of these strikes to Telegram, complete with upbeat music overlays, treating the murder of unarmed civilians like a trophy hunt or a video game highlight. With over 300 civilians killed and thousands injured in Kherson Oblast alone from these tactical drone drops, this practice has evolved from isolated acts of violence into a systematic policy aimed at rendering frontline cities uninhabitable through psychological terror.

For the international community, the implications are unambiguous. It eliminates “accidental” defenses. The direct video feed strips away any legal defense of mistaken identity or collateral damage. Every single “safari” strike is a premeditated, recorded war crime under International Humanitarian Law.

To call this a “safari” is to acknowledge the ultimate reduction of human life: Russian operators hunting unarmed men, women, and children for sport, using modern technology to execute the oldest form of cruelty.

And why is the international community silent?

Russian Aerial Strikes against Ukrainian Cities Continue

At least five people were killed across Ukraine during a heavy, combined wave of Russian missile and drone attacks overnight into Sunday, August 16.

The fatalities and key impacts recorded by regional officials and emergency services include:

Kryvyi Rih: A Russian missile strike directly hit ArcelorMittal's steel plant in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown, killing two workers and injuring 14 others.

Zaporizhzhia Region: Russian airstrikes and drone bombardments across the territory claimed two lives.

Sumy: Continuous shelling and drone strikes resulted in one fatality.

Kyiv: While no fatalities were reported in the capital overnight, a ballistic missile attack injured six people and sparked major structural fires that completely burned down the city’s historic outdoor book market. "In the Obolonskyi district, debris fell, and fires broke out in non-residential premises at two locations as a result of the enemy attack. Several cars are on fire near one of the buildings. In the Holosiivskyi district, a fire broke out in a non-residential area," Mayor Volodymyr Klitschko said.

Kyiv City Military Administration reported in the morning that three people had been injured in the Russian attack.

The State Emergency Service reported that a large fire had broken out at the historic and popular Petrivka book market near Pochaina metro station in the Obolonskyi district, sparking a major fire. The attack destroyed dozens of market stalls, books, and property across the complex, which is recognized as one of the capital's largest flea and book markets. The attack also damaged the metro station entrance and nearby retail outlets.

Publishing house Nash Format said its office near the station was affected as well, with sections of walls blown out in several rooms, the ceiling damaged, and furniture destroyed or knocked out of place.

Founded in 1997, the Pochaina Book Market was once one of Ukraine’s largest book markets and a well-known destination for Kyiv's book enthusiasts, according to Chytomo. It housed hundreds of retail stalls and offered books from more than 120 publishers.

Earlier, a Russian drone and missile strike on August 1, 2026, destroyed an estimated 600,000 school textbooks—part of a massive fire that consumed roughly 8 million total books—at a major logistics and publishing warehouse complex run by the Ranok publishing corporation in Kharkiv, Ukraine. A separate major attack by Russian forces on a Kyiv printing and warehouse facility in mid-July 2026 also resulted in the loss of roughly 600,000 finished books and textbooks.

Destroying Ukrainian ephemera, books and published intellectual property has been part and parcel of Russia’s intent in striking Ukraine.

The overnight escalation occurred alongside a massive retaliatory Ukrainian drone swarm targeted deep inside Russian territory, which reportedly killed at least six people.

Russian forces attacked Ukraine overnight on August 15 with 152 Shahed-type drones and loitering munitions, the Air Force said. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 124 drones over northern, southern, and eastern Ukraine. Drone strikes were recorded at 16 locations, while falling debris from downed targets was reported at another location.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 3-month-old child was killed, and 11 people were injured, including two children, Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said. Russian forces attacked three districts more than 70 times using drones, artillery, and aerial bombs.

In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 25 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson, injuring 28 people, including a child, over the past day, the local military administration said.

In Sumy Oblast, Russian attacks injured four people and damaged private homes, non-residential buildings, and civilian infrastructure, according to the local military administration. Russian forces carried out nearly 60 attacks against 27 settlements in the region.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian forces injured one person in Sloviansk and shelled settlements across the region 37 times, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

In southeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, two people were injured in Russian attacks on Zaporizhzhia district, while Russian forces carried out 971 strikes against 42 settlements over the past day, Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

In northeastern Kharkiv Oblast, three people were injured in Russian attacks, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. Russian forces used missiles, guided aerial bombs, Lancet and Molniya drones, FPV drones, and other unmanned systems against the region.

According to Zelenskyy, Russian forces have attacked 13 oblasts of Ukraine over the past week, using more than 1,550 attack drones, nearly 1,560 guided aerial bombs, and 62 missiles. He said the majority of the 62 missiles used by Russia were ballistic missiles of various types.

Zelenskyy also reported that six people were injured in Kyiv and the oblast as a result of overnight and morning attacks on 16 August. Two people were killed and 14 injured in Kryvyi Rih, and one person was also killed in Sumy.

Ukraine is also returning strikes against Russian invaders.  At least seven people have been killed in Russia after what officials called the “largest-scale” attack launched by Ukraine this year.

Some 822 drones were used – 600 targeting Moscow, according to its regional governor who said the Russian capital had suffered “one of the most massive drone attacks in recent memory.”

A warehouse belonging to Russian online Amazon-type retailer Wildberries was hit again. Ukrainian long-range drone operations have targeted more than 20 logistics and warehouse facilities belonging to the Russian e-commerce giant since mid-July 2026. Ukrainian officials and military reports indicate that upwards of 21 to 23 separate hubs across multiple Russian regions have been struck, resulting in severe damage or destruction to at least 20 of those sites. Wildberries' losses may approach $12 billion after Ukrainian strikes. 

Idea of X-Captive Nations Military Union vs Russian Aggression Builds Steam

Though the idea of an x-captive nations union to guard against Russian aggression is not new, after all we’ve been promoting the urgency of the idea at least for the past decade, the notion has recently gained momentum when Polish Foreign Minister Radoslav Sikorski called for the creation of an European legion to safeguard the continent against external threats.

Russia’s war against Ukraine not only united the nation, government and military into a powerful force in defense of Ukrainian independence and sovereignty, it is also sowing the seeds for an updated alliance or bloc of x-captive nations against Russian aggression.

In interviews that appeared in European news media, Sikorski said such a force would not replace NATO but would rather strengthen the North Atlantic alliance.

The Polish official believes Europe needs a much deeper military integration and the creation of a permanent European Legion to complement NATO and recruit Ukrainian veterans, Sikorski stated in an interview with Kathimerini.

Europe's role would be to establish such a new force. 

Poland’s foreign minister emphasized that Washington has been signaling for years that its strategic focus is shifting toward the Indo-Pacific region.

According to Sikorski, the United States remains an indispensable anchor of collective defense and will provide unique technological and intelligence capabilities, but Europe must do the heavy lifting on the ground.

To achieve this, the European Union needs permanent forces built around experienced personnel.

"I strongly advocate for a "European Legion," a dedicated, standing force that could recruit seasoned professionals from the broader European family, including battle-hardened Ukrainian veterans after the war," Sikorski said.

Other national leaders, among them Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have argued that today’s global security demands, including Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and other regional threats, make the establishment of a European-based Union indispensable.

To achieve this, the European Union needs permanent forces built around experienced personnel.

Sikorski emphasized that the idea is not to build a parallel alternative to NATO or duplicate its structures, but to create a stronger European pillar within the Alliance.

The articles also cited opinions about the needed battle experience of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Roman Popadiuk and currently global consultant and The Ukrainian Quarterly’s Editorial Advisory Board member, previously emphasized that Ukraine has one of the largest and most experienced armies in Europe. Its military personnel have gained substantial experience in modern warfare, which could become an important part of the future security system on the European continent.

Sikorski’s proposal envisages that, after the war, Ukrainian veterans could join the formation, strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities and its readiness to respond to new challenges.

Proving his point, the minister noted that Russia is already waging an active hybrid war against European societies through sabotage, disinformation, cyberattacks and provocations.

Moscow uses a "Maskirovka" doctrine, which relies on disinformation, camouflage and false-flag operations. The worse Russia performs on the battlefield in Ukraine, the more aggressively the Kremlin seeks to destabilize the West.

Sikorski also expressed concern about diplomatic efforts to end Russian aggression.

“Any long-term peace in our region cannot be engineered over the heads of the Ukrainians. It must be a peace that Kyiv and Moscow actually sign off on,” the Polish foreign minister stressed.

He added that Europe, including Poland, must have a prominent seat at the negotiating table because Europeans are becoming targets of Russian hybrid attacks every day.

As earlier reported, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Poland's army would soon become the largest in Europe thanks to modern weapons and the country's rapid economic growth.

At the same time, Warsaw continues to assess risks of a direct confrontation with the Kremlin. As Sikorski noted, Russia currently lacks resources to launch a military attack on Poland, while Vladimir Putin will ultimately suffer defeat in the war against Ukraine.

However, Poland regularly warns its allies about Russian sabotage activities.

In particular, Sikorski has emphasized that Russia prepares new provocations and acts of sabotage against European countries, but that exposing these plans is intended to deter the Kremlin from further aggressive actions.

Poland earlier reaffirmed its readiness to train Ukrainian recruits who would join the ranks of Ukraine’s Armed Forces in a draft center in Lublin, also hoping that the unit assembled there will be as large as possible, according to an interview with Ukrinform by Poland’s Charge d’affaires in Ukraine Piotr Lukasiewicz.

He noted that Ukraine “actually has to gather people necessary to feel a battalion, regiment, or whatever size of a unit it would take” and that Poland provides a location in Lublin as a meeting point for potential members of the unit.

"And hopefully, the process will pace up and the numbers will grow. That's my hope, because we are ready with instructors, we are ready with equipment, we are ready with facilities to train people. We would like to really have this unit to be as big and as well prepared as possible," emphasized Poland’s CDA.

He added that the previously created Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade, based in Lublin, already has considerable experience in training tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers in Poland.

The work of this joint military unit should reinforce in the minds of global leaders the comprehensive adaptability of what was a captive nation in Russia’s dungeon and what is a former captive nation, now independent state. It is important for military leaders to know that they have a trusted, well trained and battle-hardened ally in this brigade as the free world seeks to stem Russia’s aggression. They should also take note that if for any reason the free world fails to support the x-captive nations, they will then do so on their own.

Indeed, as Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania take concrete actions to defend their nations, sovereignty and independence, they are also “United for Peace” as the brigade's motto states.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the first recruiting center for Ukrainians volunteering to join the Ukrainian Army ranks was deployed on the premises of Ukraine’s Consulate General in Lublin.

With such a regional alliance already demonstrating its effectiveness, expanding the concept to the continent, as Sikorski argues, is a natural expectation.

With Russian saber-rattling intensifying daily against Ukraine and threatening the former captive nations, the necessity for the former captive nations of Moscow’s brutal prison of nations to form multilateral alliances to defend against Russian aggression is obvious. Foreign Minister Sikorski’s suggestion must be considered seriously and implemented. 

 Kyiv States Russians Executed 345 Ukrainian POWs

In addition to a range of crimes against humanity that the Russians have been known to commit during the latest chapter in its centuries-long wars against Ukrainians, since February 2022 they have been known to execute hundreds of Ukrainian prisoners of war by firing squad, impulsive killings and other murderous means such as decapitation.

Recently, Ukrainian law enforcement authorities launched a pre-trial war crimes investigation following reports that Russian forces captured, interrogated, and executed a Ukrainian soldier in the Donetsk region, the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported on July 24, according to Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian news media.

The incident occurred on July 13 of this year at approximately 2:42 PM near the village of Yalta in the Komarska rural community, where Russian forces had captured a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to preliminary findings cited by prosecutors, one Russian commander issued an order to execute the prisoner following an interrogation, after which another Russian soldier shot the Ukrainian defender with a firearm.

Under the procedural guidance of the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office, the Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) for Donetsk and Luhansk regions is conducting urgent investigative and operational actions to establish all circumstances of the incident and identify the specific Russian servicemen involved.

The case has been officially registered under Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which specifies criminal liability for violations of the laws and customs of war that result in human death.

Summary execution of prisoners of war is considered a severe crime by the UN and other international bodies. It breaks the rules of the International Committee of the Red Cross and international law.

According to the Geneva Convention, Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, color, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.

To this end, the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons: Violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;

Ukrainian prosecutors emphasized that the intentional killing of a captive constitutes a grave international crime, as law enforcement agencies continue to document and investigate systematic abuses against Ukrainian servicemen along the frontline.

The execution in Donetsk highlights a pattern of institutional impunity for battlefield atrocities within the Russian military, where commanders facing war crime charges are routinely integrated into political leadership, as was seen recently when Russian officer Nursultan Mussagaliev secured a State Duma candidacy for the ruling United Russia party after ordering the torture and killing of a civilian in Bucha.

Based on internal calculations, Russian forces have executed at least 345 Ukrainian service members who surrendered and killed 375 Ukrainian citizens whose deaths in Russian captivity have been verified.

Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets made the statement during a press conference at Ukrinform focused on Russian disinformation concerning prisoners of war, exchanges, and people missing in action.

According to Lubinets, the 345 documented executions involved Ukrainian soldiers who had clearly surrendered, including by laying down their weapons, raising their hands, or lying on the ground to demonstrate that they were no longer taking part in hostilities.

Lubinets added that Russian troops would inspect the surrendered soldiers and, in some documented cases, order them to remove their clothing before shooting them at close range.

He pointed out that the killing of service members who have surrendered constitutes a separate war crime.

Relatives of killed Ukrainian soldiers substantiated the war crimes by Russian cutthroats. In one incident, Lyudmyla Dubnytska received from her husband what turned out to be his last message, in which he told her he was likely about to be captured by Russian forces. Two days later, she recognized his body in a video on social media of a group of killed Ukrainian troops.

Her husband, Andriy Dubnytsky, is among hundreds of prisoners of war that Kyiv says Russian soldiers have executed since it launched its full-scale war in 2022. The exact number is unknown, varying according to Ukrainian and international sources, but Kyiv claims the executions reveal a deliberate criminal policy by Moscow.

Dubnytsky was 25 when he was killed in February 2024 as Ukrainian troops retreated from Avdiivka, an epicenter of fighting in eastern Ukraine, captured by Russia.

Wounded during an attempt to withdraw, a soldier from the 110th brigade stayed at his position with five comrades, four of whom were also injured. Despite their dire situation, they were hoping to be evacuated.

When he called his wife on February 15, “he was extremely nervous and was crying,” Dubnytska, 27, told the AFP news agency. To keep their spirits up, the couple vowed to have a son when reunited, a sibling for their young daughter. Several hours later, he sent her a message saying they would probably be captured. Then, he stopped answering.

A video released by Ukrainian media reveals what likely happened next: fellow soldier Ivan Zhytnyk was video-calling a relative when a Russian soldier ordered him to lay down his arms. Two days later, Lyudmyla saw a video on Russian social media of five bodies lying in a frozen puddle, stained red by blood. She recognized the tattoo of a cross on one of the men's hands: her husband.

The 110th brigade confirmed that several troops, including Dubnytsky and Zhytnyk, had been killed, accusing Russian forces of violating an agreement to evacuate them. Ukrainian prosecutors opened an investigation into the "shooting of unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war." The incident is not isolated.

Several Ukrainian officials told AFP that Russian troops increased the rate of “executions” starting in 2023.

“This stems from a Russian policy that has effectively encouraged and enabled such crimes, with commanders then issuing orders to that effect,” Andriy Atamantchuk, an official with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office overseeing the issue of POW executions, said.

Moscow has always denied these accusations.

UN Monitors Report the Highest Monthly Number of Civilian Deaths and Injuries in Ukraine since March 2022

More civilians were killed or injured in July 2026 than in any month since March 2022, marking a new high in this year’s escalation of civilian harm, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission (HRMMU) reported today.  
HRMMU verified that at least 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured in Ukraine in July, a 30 per cent increase compared with the previous month and a 70% increase compared with July 2025. The number of those killed is the highest recorded since May 2022, while child casualties were at their highest level since April 2022. The actual figure is likely higher, as HRMMU continues to verify information. 
“Every month this year the number of killed and injured civilians has increased. That trend accelerated sharply in July. The number of civilian casualties in July was the highest we documented in a single month since March 2022,” said Danielle Bell, head of HRMMU.

Overall, since February 22, 2022, OHCHR has verified at least 16,874 civilians killed, including 820 children, and 51,273 injured, including 3,126 children.   
During the first seven months of 2026, HRMMU verified that conflict-related violence in Ukraine resulted in 12,477 civilian casualties (1,839 killed and 10,638 injured). This constitutes a 44 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025 (1,434 killed and 7,216 injured) and more than double the number during the same period in 2024 (1,188 killed and 4,560 injured). 
With at least 54 civilians killed and 202 injured, Kyiv was one of the hardest hit cities in Ukraine in July as Russian armed forces significantly increased the use of ballistic and cruise missiles. Russia launched at least 429 missiles in July, more than double the number in June. Many of the missiles struck Kyiv.  
In the deadliest strike of the month, at least 30 civilians were killed and 104 injured on July 2 when Russian armed forces launched 74 missiles and almost 500 long-range drones, mainly striking Kyiv city. 
Long-range weapons (missiles and drones) remained the leading cause of civilian casualties in July, accounting for 38 per cent of the total (183 killed and 967 injured). Civilian casualties from aerial bombardments (105 killed and 753 injured) increased by 143 per cent compared with June 2026 (45 killed and 308 injured), with glide bombs becoming the second leading cause of civilian casualties. Short-range drones near the frontline caused 27 per cent of casualties (111 killed and 710 injured).  
While several high-casualty large-scale attacks accounted for some of the increase in civilian casualties in July, daily attacks with fewer casualties across different regions also contributed to the high numbers.   
“Civilians are facing intensified risks from the increased use of missiles and drones in urban centers, glide bombs in cities closer to the frontline, and short-range drones,” Bell said. “Together, these attacks are driving up civilian casualties across different regions of Ukraine.” 

Russia Hit Several Ukrainian Cities, Killing at least 10; Drone also Hits 5-Story Apartment Building in Odesa

Russia attacked several Ukrainian cities with missiles, drones and glide bombs Tuesday, killing at least 10 civilians, officials said, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow is getting new military help from North Korea for its more than 4-year-old invasion.

Zelenskyy said Russian forces used ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea in an overnight attack on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, where a company said seven workers at its steel plant were killed and 21 injured.

Three more people, including a 15-year-old boy, were killed by Russian drones and artillery in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, authorities said.

In Odesa, a Russian attack drone struck a five-story residential building late Tuesday damaging an apartment. 

Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper confirmed the strike and initially said authorities were determining whether anyone had been injured. In an update after midnight, Kiper reported that as of 12:30 AM. Wednesday, August. 12, there were no casualties from the strike.

Serhii Lysak, head of the Odesa City Military Administration, said the drone damaged an apartment on the fifth floor of the residential building.

“Fortunately, the owners were not at home at the time. So far, no information about casualties has been received,” Lysak wrote on Telegram.

Emergency and municipal crews were working at the scene, and authorities established an operational headquarters to coordinate the response. The threat continued after the strike.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported a Russian attack drone heading directly toward Odesa from the Black Sea and later warned of additional groups of strike UAVs moving toward Odesa and neighboring Mykolaiv regions. Another group was subsequently detected approaching the Tuzly Lagoons area of southern Odesa region from the Black Sea.

The residential-building strike came hours after another Russian attack in the Odesa region killed two people and injured three others.

According to Kiper, a Russian munition struck a tanker truck carrying residual vegetable oil, setting the truck and another vehicle on fire. 

Because Russian air attacks on Odesa take the form of near-daily air raid alarms, multi-weapon barrage waves, and targeted strikes, military authorities and conflict trackers measure the bombardment in thousands of launched weapons and hundreds of distinct strike incidents. 

Scale and Frequency of Attacks

Aerial Weapons Fired: The Ukrainian Navy and Air Force report that the Odesa region has been targeted by thousands of explosive assets. In a single focused timeframe between mid-2023 and early 2024 alone, Ukrainian forces recorded over 880 kamikaze drones (Shahed/Geran) and more than 170 cruise and ballistic missiles directed at Odesa's port and urban infrastructure.

Frequency of Alarms and Waves: Air raid sirens in Odesa Oblast have sounded thousands of times since February 24, 2022. Bombardments typically occur in intensive waves—sometimes multiple times a week or nightly during major escalation campaigns targeting Black Sea logistics.

Primary Strike Targets: Russian bombardments have concentrated heavily on critical infrastructure, including:

Port and Grain Logistics: Major commercial sea hubs (Odesa Port, Chornomorsk, Pivdennyi) and grain silos.

Energy Infrastructure: Electrical substations and power plants supplying the Black Sea coast.

Urban and Historical Center: Residential neighborhoods and cultural landmarks within Odesa’s UNESCO World Heritage site.