The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
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Russia’s war against Ukraine
Smoke rises over Kyiv, Ukraine, on Aug. 28, 2025, from fires following Russia’s massive missile and drone attack. (Maxym Marusenko / NurPhoto via Getty Images)
‘Moscow’s true answer to peace efforts’ — Russian mass attack on Kyiv kills 25, including children. At least 25 people were killed in the attack on the capital, including four children, authorities said. Three of them were aged 2, 14, and 17.
Ukraine calls emergency UN Security Council meeting over Russian strike on Kyiv. The Ukrainian delegation in New York will reportedly brief the international community about the scale of destruction and will urge an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians.
Ukrainian drone сauses fire near Vladimir Putin’s Black Sea palace and winery, media reports. The fire started as a result of a Ukrainian drone attack on Aug. 28 near a village close to Gelendzhik, a Russian resort town on the Black Sea coastline, according to the reports.
Military, NATO backing, sanctions — Zelensky outlines 3 key pillars for Ukraine’s security guarantees. Security guarantees for Ukraine should include provisions related to army funding, agreements with NATO members, and sanctions against Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
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Ukraine claims strike on key Russian facility supplying fuel to Moscow’s army.
The pumping station near the village of Naytopovichi in Bryansk Oblast, a Russian region bordering Ukraine and Belarus, was hit overnight on Aug. 29, the Ukrainian military reported.
Large fire seen after Ukrainian drones reportedly strike oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai. Explosions were reported by local residents around 2:30 a.m. local time, amid reports of drones flying overhead. Videos posted to social media appear to show a large blaze emanating from a local oil refinery.
Ukrainian drone strikes halt operations at Russia’s Kuibyshevsk refinery, sources tell Reuters. The refinery, operated by Rosneft, saw both of its main crude distillation units — CDU-4 and CDU-5, each with a capacity of 70,000 barrels per day — taken offline in the recent strikes.
‘Supporting more terror‘ — Ukraine slams Russian flag display at Venice Film Festival. “The organizers prefer to turn a blind eye and further ruin the festival’s reputation,” read the statement issued by Ukraine’s foreign and culture ministries.
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Ukraine war latest: Ukraine calls emergency UN Security Council meeting over Russian strike on Kyiv
Russia launched a barrage of around 630 drones and missiles against Ukraine overnight on Aug. 28, killing at least 25 people in Kyiv, including four children, and injuring over 60. The attack took place amid months-long efforts by the U.S. to negotiate an end to the war.
Photo: Photo by Selcuk Acar / Anadolu
The elephant in the room — Russia won’t agree to Ukraine security guarantees, Europe can’t enforce them
There’s a new buzzword in capitals across Europe and North America — “security guarantees” — a set of measures that are supposed to ensure that if the war in Ukraine stops, Russia won’t simply launch another invasion in the future.
Photo: Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
Exclusive: Zelensky-Putin meeting ‘impossible’ unless Trump ups pressure on Russia, Ukraine says
A face-to-face meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin won’t happen unless the U.S. ups pressure on the Russian leader, a source in Ukraine’s President’s Office has told the Kyiv Independent.
Photo: Kremlin Press Office / Anadolu via Getty Images
Exclusive: Maker of Ukraine’s new Flamingo cruise missile facing corruption probe
Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency has been investigating the country’s star deep-strike drone company — Fire Point — over concerns it misled the government on pricing and deliveries, sources told the Kyiv Independent.
Photo: AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky
From Crimea to Donbas, Russia’s “peace” has always meant more war. We’re here in Ukraine to give the world a reality check. Support independent journalism in this critical moment.
Human cost of Russia’s war
Death toll of Aug. 28 attack on Kyiv rises to 25, 2-year old girl and mother among killed. 24-year-old Nadiya Yakymenko and her 2-year-old daughter Angelina were among the 25 people killed in the attack on the capital, the Russia Kills project reported on Aug. 29.
1 killed, 22 injured in Zaporizhzhia as Russia launches large-scale missile, drone attack on Ukrainian cities. Russia launched a missile and drone attack targeting various Ukrainian regions overnight on Aug. 30, killing at least one person and injuring 22 others, officials reported.
International response
Hungarian opposition politician speaks up in support for Ukrainian commander banned by Budapest over oil pipeline attack. Marton Tompos, a representative of the Hungarian oppositional party Momentum, sent €414 in donations to Brovdi’s unit, the 414th Strike UAV Brigade “Birds of Madyar.” He called on Hungarians to do the same.
Patriot components, Starlink upkeep — US approves $329 million in military sales for Ukraine. The United States Department of State approved military sales to Ukraine worth $329.1 million on Aug. 29, for components related to the upkeep of Patriot air defense systems as well as Starlink terminals, the agency announced.
Belgium pledges nearly $120 million to Ukraine under NATO-led arms scheme.
“This funding goes on top of the 1 billion euros ($1.17 billion) military aid that Belgium has already delivered,” Ukraine’s Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
Two-thirds of Americans pessimistic about Russia-Ukraine peace prospects, poll shows. Some 22% of respondents said they are very pessimistic about a possible peace deal in Ukraine, while 45% said they are somewhat pessimistic, according to a Gallup poll.
EU member states ready to deploy military instructors to Ukraine after potential truce, Kallas says. Kallas met with the ministers in Copenhagen on Aug. 29 to discuss several issues, including security guarantees for Ukraine. “I welcome that there is broad support today to expand our EU military mission mandate to provide training and advice inside Ukraine after any truce,” Kallas said.
Talks with Ukraine ‘very productive and constructive,’ US envoy Witkoff says ahead of Security Council meeting. The meeting was described by Trump administration officials as both a progress report and a reaffirmation of efforts to bring Ukraine and Russia to the table for an eventual peace deal, according to Fox News.
Russia prepares for long war
In other news
Kyivstar celebrates NASDAQ bell-ringing ceremony in Kyiv. The bell ringing took place at the Nasdaq headquarters in New York City on Aug. 29, with Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak in attendance.
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