(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has denied reports of an impending mass mobilisation, describing them as an “information attack,” while commercial flights in and out of Russia face widespread disruption following Ukrainian warnings about drone activity.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukrainian long range drones have effectively made Russian airspace too dangerous for commercial aviation. Ukraine intends to launch more than 1,000 long range drones at targets inside Russia every day.
Flights in and out of Russia are being cancelled after Zelenskyy warned of increased drone activity around Moscow and St Petersburg. Turkish Airlines began cancelling flights to Russia following the warning, which reportedly triggered 77 flight delays or cancellations across Moscow’s three major airports.
“We’re getting word that the first airlines have started to suspend flights to Russian airports following our announcement about the drone hazard that objectively exists in Russian airspace,” Zelenskyy said. “This is the right and perfectly logical response to the facts as they are to everything stemming from the war Putin doesn’t want to end. Lives must be protected.”
Ukraine has officially informed international organisations and partners about the situation in Russian airspace. Flight radar tracking shows no flights over Ukraine, which has remained closed to commercial aviation for four and a half years.
Russia has said it will not let Ukraine disrupt air travel. Putin called Zelenskyy’s airspace warning “state terrorism” as shares of Russia’s national airline Aeroflot fell 5%. The airline’s five year performance shows a 52% decline, with a 66% drop over ten years.
Ukraine confirmed a strike hit the Novatek fuel plant at Russia’s Ust-Luga port on the Baltic Sea. Satellite imagery showed the Kstovo refinery, struck on 26th August, sustained significant damage to process pipe racks and columns. The facility accounts for 11% of Russia’s gasoline production and has a refining capacity of 11 million tonnes per year.
A fire erupted at Russia’s Proton PM rocket engine plant in Perm. No drones were reported in the area, suggesting an industrial accident or possible sabotage.
Ukraine’s General Staff reported that recent strikes on Russian military airfields destroyed a MiG-29 and a Ka-27 helicopter. The strikes targeted the Millerovo airfield on 27th August and the Yeysk airfield on 30th August.
In Russia’s Far East, a military Mi-8 helicopter made a hard landing on a highway on Sakhalin Island after running out of fuel. The helicopter was carrying representatives of the regional election commission, four local television reporters and three crew members returning from early voting for Russia’s State Duma elections.
“The reason for the emergency landing of the Mi-8 helicopter was the simultaneous shutdown of both engines due to a complete lack of fuel,” explained the Fighterbomber channel. “The helicopter was just 5 km away from the airfield. There wasn’t enough kerosene.”
Russia’s attempt to build a Starlink rival has suffered a serious setback. According to the Institute for the Study of War, none of the 16 spacecraft launched in July reached the 550 km benchmark. Many satellites ended up at altitudes between 300 and 400 km and are experiencing orbital decay. At least two satellites will burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere.
A gunman on a motorcycle shot a Russian Air Force major general near the Engels airfield. The officer, who Ukraine says ordered the strike on Kyiv’s children’s hospital, was hit twice, once in the stomach and once in the face. Surgeons in Saratov worked through the morning to keep him alive.
Fuel rationing continues across Russia. One resident reported that petrol stations now only sell fuel by ration cards issued at workplaces. “At this rate, we are going to have bread, milk, eggs and meat by coupons soon,” she said.
Russian grain exports have collapsed, according to data from the Russian Grain Union. Exports fell 22% in the first ten days of August compared with the previous year, followed by a 79% decrease from 11th to 20th August and 88% in the final ten days. Magura drones have struck over 200 ships in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.
In occupied Berdansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a total energy collapse has been reported with no electricity in the city since 2nd August. Magura drones have destroyed 400 energy targets in Crimea and the occupied territories.
Putin dismissed mobilisation reports during a security conference in Kyrgyzstan, calling them “complete nonsense” and “an information attack against Russia.” He made identical statements in 2022 before ordering partial mobilisation. The mobilisation decree was never rescinded, leaving Putin with legal authority to conscript at will.
Norway has seized a Russian state owned research vessel near Svalbard in partnership with Ukraine’s Naftogaz. The seizure enforces a 2023 ruling ordering Russia to pay $4.2 billion in compensation for assets seized in Crimea. The $4.2 billion is equivalent to approximately £3.3 billion.
Russia has been helping Iran develop supersonic cruise missiles, according to The Times of Israel. Russian engineers have made multiple visits to Iran for a project to remake ramjet engines needed for high speed anti-ship and land attack weapons.
Russian jet powered drones struck a university in Kyiv during class time. Zelenskyy confirmed students were in shelters. Overnight, Russia also attacked Odesa, damaging a residential building and city infrastructure. Five people were injured, including a child.
Twenty Ukrainian firms are racing to develop interceptors for Russia’s jet powered drones. Firebolt Engineering, a British Ukrainian company, has already flown combat missions. The Griffin interceptor can fly over 350 km per hour, operate above 7,500 metres and travel 120 km before running out of fuel.
Brent crude is trading at $95 a barrel. Urals crude is trading at approximately $84 a barrel. The $95 Brent price is equivalent to approximately £74, while the $84 Urals price is equivalent to approximately £66.
US Treasury Secretary Bessent has blamed high energy prices on Ukraine’s strikes against Russian energy assets. “Ukraine has decided that they want to blow up Russian energy assets and refined products. So that is creating upward price pressure on a global basis,” he said.
Russian truckers continue to risk journeys into occupied territories. A single trip from Rostov to Crimea with a semi-truck now pays 345,000 roubles, approximately $3,000 or £2,350. The average Russian truck driver earns between 150,000 and 200,000 roubles per month.
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