The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Fire breaks out after a Russian attack in Kherson, Ukraine on August 2, 2025. (Kherson Regional Military Administration/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ukraine’s drone strike reportedly sparks fire at oil depot in Russia’s Sochi. A drone strike resulted in a major fire early on Aug. 3 at an oil depot in Russia’s resort city of Sochi, setting ablaze a 2,000-cubic-meter fuel tank, local authorities said.
Ukraine imposes sanctions against 94 individuals, 5 entities, including captains of Russia’s shadow fleet. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on Aug. 3 imposing sanctions against 94 individuals and five legal entities, primarily targeting the captains of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” vessels.
Zelensky appoints new head of Ukrainian Air Force after year-long vacancy. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Anatoliy Kryvonozhko, who has been serving as the Air Force’s acting head since the end of last August.
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‘Work on lists is ongoing’ — Ukraine, Russia preparing to exchange 1,200 POWs each, Zelensky says. Work is ongoing between Ukraine and Russia as the warring parties prepare to each exchange 1,200 Prisoners of War (POWs), President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug. 3.
Ukraine’s law enforcement uncovers drone procurement corruption scheme involving lawmakers. Oleksii Kuznetsov, a member of parliament who belongs to Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, allegedly accepted kickbacks for inflating military contracts. He has been dismissed from his parliamentary faction pending the outcome of the case.
Trump says envoy may visit Russia ahead of peace deal deadline. U.S. President Donald Trump said that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, may travel to Russia on Aug. 6 or 7 — just days before a deadline for Moscow to reach a peace deal with Ukraine or face secondary tariffs targeting its oil exports.
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Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones target Shahed storage site, industrial facilities in Russia; Strikes hit oil depot in Sochi
A series of drone attacks targeted industrial facilities in Russia’s Ryazan, Penza, Samara and Voronezh oblasts overnight on Aug. 2, Ukraine’s General Staff reported. In Ryazan, an oil refinery was reportedly struck, with videos shared on social media showing a large pillar of fire near the site.
Photo: Serhii Mykhalchuk / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
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Human cost of Russia’s war
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,056,130 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
The number includes 920 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Russian missile strike against Mykolaiv injures 7. A Russian missile strike hit the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv overnight on Aug. 3, injuring seven and damaging homes and civilian infrastructure, according to Ukrainian officials.
Trump runs out of patience with Russia | Ukraine This Week
International response
Trump aide accuses India of financing Russia’s war in Ukraine. In an Aug. 3 Fox News interview, senior Trump aide Stephen Miller accused India of helping fund Russia’s war in Ukraine by continuing to import oil from Moscow.
German politician calls for reduced benefits for Ukrainian refugees. Markus Soder, Prime Minister of the German state of Bavaria, has called for an end to citizen’s allowance payments for Ukrainian refugees, proposing that new arrivals instead receive reduced benefits under the country’s Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.
In other news
Russia, China conduct joint drills in Sea of Japan. The Russian and Chinese navies are conducting joint military exercises in the Sea of Japan, the Kremlin said Aug. 3, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of nuclear submarines in a show of force toward Moscow.
‘Armed with bats and metal pipes‘ — Casualties reported after civilians allegedly attack draft officer in Mykolaiv Oblast. Civilians allegedly attacked a recruitment officer in the village of Buzke in Mykolaiv Oblast on Aug. 3, the regional Territorial Recruitment Center reported.
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