(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Ukraine has launched another series of long range strikes deep inside Russia, targeting a military airbase and disrupting operations at a major Black Sea oil export hub. Explosions were also reported in Samara, approximately 800 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.
Russia has suspended crude oil exports from its main Black Sea terminal in Novorossiysk following an earlier Ukrainian strike and a new drone alert. The terminal handles around 700,000 barrels of crude per day. According to Reuters, operations were halted as storage tankers reached capacity.
Ukraine also struck a military airbase housing MiG-31 fighter jets capable of launching Kinzhal ballistic missiles. The Exo Nova Plus Telegram channel claimed that Ukrainian “Flamingo” missiles were used in the attack. Explosions were also reported in Samara, where the TsSKB-Progress plant, Russia’s only Soyuz rocket manufacturing facility, was hit on 15th August 2026.
In Kyiv, protesters gathered on Friday demanding that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reinstate former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Zelenskyy earlier dismissed Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi following similar demands but has remained silent on Fedorov.
The protests have renewed outside the presidential office, with demonstrators continuing to demand Fedorov’s return. Fedorov, a popular former defence minister, was dismissed in mid July by President Zelenskyy in a government reshuffle. Protesters took to the streets when that decision was made with two demands: sacking Syrskyi as Commander-in-Chief and reappointing Fedorov as Defence Minister.
President Zelenskyy did eventually relent and dismissed Syrskyi. However, Fedorov has not been reinstated, and there has been no sign that the president plans to reverse that decision. The renewed protests are smaller in number than in previous weeks, suggesting the protest movement may be losing momentum. With demonstrations losing steam, it seems unlikely to be enough to pressure Zelenskyy into reappointing Fedorov.
In his Friday night address, President Zelenskyy said weapons once considered out of reach are now a reality for Ukraine. He pointed to F-16s and mass drone production before turning to Patriot air defence systems. “The same will be true for Patriots in Ukraine. We are continuing our work to secure air defence systems for Ukraine, the missiles needed to protect lives, and to reach agreements on production in Ukraine. All of this will happen. It’s not easy, but it will all happen,” Zelenskyy said.
He added: “Throughout the war, we’ve talked many times about weapons, equipment, and technology that we were initially told were supposedly impossible. Then we heard Ukrainians supposedly couldn’t do it because we would take decades to become capable. F-16s, producing millions of drones a year, specialised missile technologies, and we did it. The same will be true for anti-ballistic systems, and the same will be true for Patriots in Ukraine.”
US President Donald Trump has suggested he could soon declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory. Speaking at a political rally at a police academy in New York State, Trump also urged Americans to accept higher petrol prices as the war with Iran and Iran’s effective closure of the strait disrupt energy markets.
“After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States, essentially. That’s what we have, the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to,” Trump said.
He continued: “For you to pay a tiny little bit more for your gasoline, just remember, you’re doing it so that a very evil country cannot have a country, really. It’s the number one state sponsor of terror in the world. We don’t want to have them have a nuclear weapon. So remember that when you have to pay a little bit more, you’re at $4. It’s okay. I’m not, I’ll never apologise. I did the right thing.”
Poland is marking Armed Forces Day with ceremonies across Warsaw culminating in a major military parade along the Vistula River. The events commemorate the Polish military on the anniversary of the 1920 Battle of Warsaw.
The day began at 8:00 a.m. with a mass at the field cathedral of the Polish army attended by the presidential couple and the defence minister. The defence minister is also due to lay a wreath at the monument to Wincenty Witos. At 10 a.m., Polish President Andrzej Duda, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, attended the ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The main event begins at noon when the Armed Forces Day Military Parade gets underway.
Poland has been reinstated in Starlink’s European roaming system after the government raised concerns over conditions for Polish customers. Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said SpaceX responded to his request and assured him that Polish customers would not face less favourable terms. Starlink has dropped its plans to charge Polish customers more when using the service in other European countries.
“It’s not normal for Poland and Polish users to be subjected to separate rules while other European countries continue to use Starlink as they have. I don’t understand this change and I oppose it. I expect and demand that Elon Musk and SpaceX change these rules,” Gawkowski said.
He demanded an explanation, calling on SpaceX to restore equal treatment. Hours later, he said the company had backed down. Poland will now be included in Starlink’s intra-European travel area with no new restrictions for Polish customers.
The dispute also drew in Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, who warned that Poland could reconsider spending around $50 million (approximately £39 million / €46 million) a year on Starlink services. After the reversal, Sikorski responded with irony: “Thank you Elon Musk for recognising that Poland is in the European Union.”
Poland is also a major provider of Starlink terminals to Ukraine, where the system remains crucial for communication during the war.
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