Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin passes law to seize retail warehouses if they face Ukrainian drone attack

Two children among several injured in Russian strike in Ukraine's ChernihivRussian president Vladimir Putin has issued a presidential decree to allow the Russian state to take control of private critical infrastructure if they are not protected from Ukrainian drone attacks.Putin’s order covers online retail warehouses that have increasingly been targeted by Kyiv, as well as energy, industrial and transport facilities deemed critical to the stability of the nation.It comes as Ukraine has expanded its aerial assault on Russian infrastructure, repeatedly targeting logistics centres belonging to shopping websites Wildberries and now Ozon. Ukraine has accused these facilities of providing support to Russia’s armed forces.Earlier, Britain and France pledged to provide Ukraine with access to classified technology and faster deliveries of air defence missiles during a meeting of allies to mark Kyiv's Independence Day celebrations.Andy Burnham offered Ukraine the UK’s unwavering support “despite Russia’s outrageous threats to my country”.“This is the moment to keep up the pressure on Russia. The moment to squeeze their ability to fund this illegal war," Burnham said, calling ⁠for further economic sanctions.Trump congratulates Ukraine on Independence Day, says ZelenskyVolodymyr Zelensky says US president Donald Trump had congratulated Ukraine on its Independence Day a day earlier.Zelensky shared Trump’s message on X. It read: "Let ‌us seize this ‌moment to end ⁠the conflict and build a durable, lasting peace that unleashes the ‌tremendous potential ​of ‌Ukraine ⁠for generations to ⁠come.”In response, Zelensky said: “These words, much like the sound of a Patriot PAC-3 launch, lift our spirits and give hope that lives can be protected from Russia’s savage attacks and that a dignified peace can be achieved. Thank you, President Trump and all Americans, for your support and congratulations!“Arpan Rai25 August 2026 07:59Ukraine displays its land, air and sea drones in Independence Day celebrationsMonday's Independence Day speeches by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and foreign delegates at St Sophia Square in Kyiv were accompanied by a parade of domestically-produced weapons.Hovering in the sky above the capital, a squadron of aerial drones carried out a demonstration of the Ukrainian military technology, which has helped to keep Russian forces in check.Naval drones swept along the Dnipro river, while unnamed ground vehicles – some equipped with heavy ‌machine guns – trundled in formation along one of the city's main commercial avenues.Arpan Rai25 August 2026 07:34 Zelensky says Ukraine wants peace but won't give inUkraine wants peace but will not just surrender to Russia at any price, president Volodymyr Zelensky said in a defiant speech on Monday to mark Independence Day, as foreign leaders pledged their support."Ukraine absolutely wants peace, but it is not ready to simply surrender," Zelensky said, warning that Russia would not halt its aggression even if Ukraine ceded to its demands for more territory in the country's east.While praising the achievements of Ukraine's defence industry during the war, Zelensky called for an increase in cruise missile production to take the fight to Russia this winter.Exploiting Ukraine's critical shortage of anti-ballistic missiles, ‌Russia has stepped up its campaign of air strikes at cities far ⁠from the front line this summer.Volodymyr Zelensky awaits the arrival of British PM Andy Burnham ahead of their bilateral meeting at Horodetskyi House in Kyiv (Getty)Arpan Rai25 August 2026 07:28Third drone and explosives found in Germany after failed airport attackGerman investigators have discovered a third drone and suspected explosives linked to this month's attempted attack on the Leipzig/Halle airport, local media has reported this morning.The drone was found on 14 August, 10 ⁠days after the incident, ​to ⁠the west of the airport, where investigators also discovered about ⁠50 grams (1.8 oz) of a substance ​they ⁠suspected to be the ‌military explosive hexogen, reported broadcasters NDR and WDR and the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.Security sources cited in the reports suspect Russian intelligence involvement in the attempted attack, an accusation Moscow has denied.On 4 August, an explosives-laden drone was discovered near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft used for military supplies. Investigators also suspect ‌a second drone may ​have collided with a DHL cargo ‌plane soon after ⁠the airport's temporary shutdown.The airport ⁠is a cargo and military logistics hub ‌used ​by Nato and Ukraine's ‌Antonov Airlines for military ​supplies.A police officer in protective clothing works at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Schkeuditz, Germany (Reuters)Arpan Rai25 August 2026 07:16Putin adviser warns UK factories face attacks from ‘unknown sources’ for helping UkraineBritish factories manufacturing drones for Ukraine could face targeting by "unknown sources", a Kremlin adviser has warned, after the UK agreed to share long-range missile blueprints with the nation.Andrei Fedorov, a former deputy foreign minister for Russia, stated he could not "100% exclude" the possibility of "semi-military" operations directed at Britain, speaking as Andy Burnham undertook a trip to Kyiv.The visit marked the prime minister’s inaugural overseas journey since taking office. While in the capital, the UK reaffirmed its "unwavering" commitment to Ukraine, which in turn provided what officials described as a "goldmine" of combat data to enhance British security.In discussions with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Burnham assured there would be "no change in the UK’s steadfast support" for the country.Arpan Rai25 August 2026 07:07Watch: Two children among several injured in Russian strike in Ukraine's ChernihivTwo children among several injured in Russian strike in Ukraine's ChernihivArpan Rai25 August 2026 06:45Ukraine eyes local production of Anglo-French missileEuropean leaders brought pledges of further military and financial support as they met Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv yesterday for Ukraine’s Independence Day celebrations.PM Andy Burnham announced his government has agreed to allow defence company MBDA to release classified information relating to British components used in the SCALP long-range missile.That paves the way for France and Ukraine to advance plans for the weapon's production in Ukraine.SCALP is the French version of the UK’s Storm Shadow missile, with both systems incorporating shared technology.“Ukraine has been Europe’s protector, not a drain on our security, but the front line of keeping Europe safe,” Burnham said, adding that Kyiv and its partners “must keep up the pressure on Moscow.”Ukraine has leaned heavily on Nato countries for help fighting Russia’s bigger army, although relations with the United States have been cooler under president Donald Trump.Russia, meanwhile, is getting help from North Korea and China.Andy Burnham arrives to meet Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of their bilateral meeting at Horodetskyi House in Kyiv (Reuters)Arpan Rai25 August 2026 06:32First British national killed fighting for Putin in Ukraine ‘dies in drone attack’According to LBC, the former fisherman travelled to Moscow in April where he met other British pro-Russian fighters Aiden Minnis and Ben Stimson who are thought to have recruited him online.He was killed in a “storm operation” on 10 June, according to a Russia-linked social media account seen by LBC.Townsend was described as a “warrior in a holy war” who had “sacrificed his life for the cause” by the account.Arpan Rai25 August 2026 06:12Ukraine targets Ozon in widening attacks on Russian online retailersUkraine has targeted four logistics hubs owned by Russia's second-largest online retailer Ozon, widening a campaign of drone strikes on Russian e-commerce companies intended to inflict more damage on the war-battered economy.Ozon's shares tumbled after it reported the strikes in southern Russia, which brought to six the number of its facilities targeted in the last three days.Kyiv had until last week focused on Ozon's rival, Wildberries, in attacks on the e-commerce sector — one of the fastest-growing parts of the Russian economy.Ozon said in a statement that a logistics hub in Makhachkala in Dagestan was on fire and had halted operations after a drone attack, adding: “According to preliminary information, several people were injured.”A fire also broke out at an ​Ozon ⁠logistics hub in the town of Enem on the outskirts of the city of Krasnodar, and workers were evacuated from warehouses in Adygeysk, in the Adygeya region, and in Nevinnomyssk in the Stavropol region although neither facility was damaged, it said.Arpan Rai25 August 2026 05:56North Korea deploys drone unit among 8,500 troops fighting Ukraine war, says KyivNorth Korea deploys drone unit among 8,500 troops fighting Ukraine war, says KyivNorth Korea has sent at least 8,500 troops to Russia, including a drone attack unit to survey and hit targets inside Ukraine, according to Ukrainian intelligence.The deputy head of Ukraine’s defence intelligence, Major General Vadym Skibitskiy, said that the North Korean forces are mostly spread in Russia’s Kursk region and around a thousand of them are engineers and deminers.At least 400 more are believed to be drone operators, marking the first time North Korea has deployed an official drone warfare unit in the Ukraine war on behalf of Russia, the official said. Many of them have received direct or indirect experience from previous North Korean deployments.Mr Skibitskiy said Russian president Vladimir Putin could ask his North Korean ally Kim Jong Un to deploy another 50,000 forces if they meet in September as part of Moscow and Pyongyang’s continuing military cooperation.Arpan Rai25 August 2026 05:36