President Vladimir Putin has admitted that Ukrainian attacks are causing Russia harm, in statements made on Wednesday.
"Of course, such attacks have not caused, and could not cause, critical consequences. However, they do inflict damage; this is obvious, and we fully understand and acknowledge it," he told a conference of ministers and business leaders on the economy.
Ukraine has upped its long-range attacks on critical energy infrastructure over the last few months.
People in Russia are withdrawing billions from the nation’s banks over fears that the Kremlin could begin to seize money to finance the war with Ukraine, a report says.
According to The Washington Post, the country is seeing a record cash outflow amid intensifying drone strikes from Ukraine.
Nearly 286.4bn rubles (worth $3.4bn) was withdrawn in the first two weeks of August, according to data from the Russian Central Bank, reported in The Post.
That follows $7.3bn withdrawn last month and more than $4.5bn in June.
Alexandra Prokopenko, a former adviser to the Russian Central Bank, said the withdrawals illustrated a level of fear among the Russian public.
“This is all a consequence of the fear that the government will do something with the banking system, that it could nationalise deposits.”
Key Points
- Russians ‘withdraw billions’ from banks amid fears Putin could seize money
- Ukraine's ousted defence minister challenges Zelensky and calls for wartime elections
- Russia's Lavrov says Britain risks being seen as party to Ukraine war
- Burnham says he backs Ukraine 100% after Moscow’s threat over use of UK drones
Watch: UK minister hits back after Russia threat over Ukraine’s ‘use of British drones’ in record attacks
17:50 , Maira Butt
Comment: Putin’s empty threats to the UK are the last gasp of a dying Russia
17:20 , Maira Butt
Last weekend, Ukraine sent another wave of attack drones into the heart of Russia's war economy. The targets were oil refineries, coal depots, military logistics and other critical sites.
Until now, the drones Ukraine sent deep into Russia were almost all home grown. This time was different. Among them were drones built in Britain. According to The Sunday Times, they included the Nyan, a jet-powered strike drone made by Callen-Lenz, a subsidiary of BAE Systems, used against oil refineries in Volgograd and Yaroslavl. A second British-built drone was used too. Its manufacturer has not been named, for security reasons.
Yesterday, the Russian embassy in London responded with a warning of “serious consequences” for Britain arming Ukraine with offensive weapons. Within minutes my phone lit up with messages from many people asking what I made of it.
Putin’s empty threats to the UK are the last gasp of a dying Russia
Full story: Ukraine’s ousted defence minister challenges Zelensky and calls for wartime elections
16:50 , Maira Butt
Ukraine’s former defence minister has called for wartime elections in a direct challenge to president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Mykhailo Fedorov, 35, whose ouster as defence chief in July triggered major protests in the country, issued the call in a video address shared on YouTube.
“Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia. We must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to renew its full democratic process even in the conditions of a long war," he said.
Mr Zelensky has refused to hold elections in wartime, saying a vote can only be held once a ceasefire is agreed with Russia and Ukraine has “necessary security guarantees” in place.
Ukraine’s ousted defence minister challenges Zelensky and calls for wartime elections
In pictures: Aftermath of a Russian drone attack in Zaporizhzhia
16:20 , Maira Butt
Putin admits Ukrainian attacks having impact but 'no critical consequences'
15:50 , Maira Butt
President Vladimir Putin has admitted that Ukrainian attacks are causing Russia harm, in statements made on Wednesday.
"Of course, such attacks have not caused, and could not cause, critical consequences. However, they do inflict damage; this is obvious, and we fully understand and acknowledge it," he told a conference of ministers and business leaders on the economy.
Ukraine has upped its long-range attacks on critical energy infrastructure over the last few months.
Moscow's fuel stations limit sales amid shortages
15:20 , Maira Butt
Fuel stations in Russia’s capital Moscow have imposed restrictions on fuel sales amid shortages linked to Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries, according to Reuters witnesses and fuel suppliers.
Shortages have been steadily worsening since May and spread to most Russian regions by July.
Comment: Putin is an open threat to the UK – will his admirer Nigel Farage finally say so?
14:50 , Maira Butt
Vladimir Putin is displeased. British drones have been used by Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory. The Russian embassy has warned that “London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer”.
It said: “The deeper its involvement in the conflict, and the greater its support for Kyiv’s terrorist machinery, the higher the price it will pay.”
Andy Burnham has responded robustly. He said today: “We support Ukraine 100 per cent against this illegal war led by Vladimir Putin. We are providing support so that Ukraine can defend itself, and that’s been the British position all the way through this conflict.”
John Rentoul reports:
Putin is an open threat to the UK – will his admirer Nigel Farage finally say so?
Russians ‘withdraw billions from banks over fears Putin will seize deposits for war’
14:30 , Maira Butt
Russian citizens are withdrawing billions of roubles from the country’s banks over fears that the Kremlin could seize deposits to fund the war in Ukraine.
Analysts say fears that the Kremlin could confiscate private savings to bankroll the conflict have triggered widespread panic, with more than 286.4bn roubles (£2.5bn) pulled from Russian banks during the first two weeks of August alone.
A staggering £5.3bn was reported to have been withdrawn in July on top of a further £3.32bn in June, according to Central Bank data.
Russians ‘withdraw billions from banks over fears Putin will seize deposits for war’
Russia's Putin says Ukrainian attacks on Russian industry have no critical impact
14:10 , Maira Butt
President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Russia has suffered no critical consequences from Ukrainian attacks on its industrial facilities.
The leader played down the impact of the strikes, whose targets have included oil refineries and commercial warehouse of Russia’s top online retailer Wildberries, while addressing a conference of ministers and business leaders on the economy.
Ukraine's parliament approves Yevhenii Khmara as new defence minister
13:51 , Maira Butt
Ukraine's parliament approved the appointment of Yevhenii Khmara as new defence minister on Wednesday.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy nominated Khmara, whom he had earlier appointed as acting minister, after the ousting of Mykhailo Fedorov in July.
The appointment was backed by 312 lawmakers, with 226 needed for a majority.
Watch: Ousted Ukraine defence minister calls for presidential election during war
13:20 , Maira Butt
Kanye West to become biggest western star to play in Russia since invasion of Ukraine
12:50 , Maira Butt
Kanye West will perform in St Petersburg in October in yet another controversial move for the US rapper, who will become the biggest western star to play in the country since its invasion of Ukraine.
The performance is set to take place in the Gazprom Arena, according to a Telegram post on Monday from the stadium.
It comes after West, known as Ye, has faced a series of concert cancellations and performance bans across Europe after making antisemitic remarks, including praise for Adolf Hitler, and the use of Nazi imagery.
Kanye West to become biggest western star to play in Russia since invasion of Ukraine
The drones that the UK supplies Ukraine following Russia’s threat
12:20 , Maira Butt
Russia has warned of “consequences” following reports that British-built drones were deployed to hit targets on its mainland for the first time.
Ukrainian army sources told The Times that drones made by two British companies have been used in the past six months to attack targets including oil refineries in Volgograd and near Moscow and logistics hubs.
Russia’s embassy to the UK said in a statement on Monday that the reports “confirm that London is deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis” and accused Britain of “seeking to contain Russia and inflict maximum damage on it by proxy”.
The drones that the UK supplies Ukraine following Russia’s threat
Zelensky dismisses deputy head of presidential office amid corruption probe
11:53 , Maira Butt
President Volodymyr Zelensky has sacked his deputy head of the presidential office Iryna Mudra on Wednesday, according to a decree published on the president’s website.
A reason was not given for the dismissal but Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies had said earlier in the day that they had identified a group including a deputy head that they suspected of money laundering.
Russia's Lavrov says Britain risks being seen as party to Ukraine war
11:20 , Maira Butt
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia had the right to regard the direct involvement of Britain in strikes on Russian territory as participation in the war in Ukraine.
His comments came after the Times newspaper reported on Saturday that British-made drones had been used for long-range strikes against Russia for the first time.
Following the report, Russia's embassy in London warned Britain of unspecified "consequences" for supplying drones to Kyiv.
PM Andy Burnham said on Tuesday that Britain would support Ukraine "100%" in its fight against Russia and stand by Kyiv "in its hour of need".
Moscow has previously accused British specialists of involvement in attacks on Russian territory, saying Britain's role would be taken "into account" in its response.
EU welcomes decision by eight countries to back restrictive measures against Belarus
10:50 , Maira Butt
The European Union has welcomed the decision by Albania, Bosnia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway and Ukraine to align with its restrictive measures against Belarus, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a statement on Tuesday.
In July, the EU Council decided to impose restrictive measures against the country "in view of the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine".
Drone causes fire in industrial area in Russia's Ufa, official says
10:20 , Maira Butt
Authorities were trying to put out a small fire after a drone fell in an industrial area in the city of Ufa in the Russian republic of Bashkortostan, the republic's head Radiy Khabirov said on the messaging app Telegram.
Khabirov added that one of the drones hit an apartment building and a few cars in Ufa, an oil refining hub, leaving one person injured.
Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies launch probe ahead of key defence minister vote
09:50 , Maira Butt
Anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine have launched a special operation against lawmakers and presidential advisers on Wednesday, hours before a key vote in parliament for a new defence minister.
The NABU and SAPO agencies released no further details, but the probe poses a fresh headache for Volodymyr Zelensky after ousted defence chief Mykhailo Fedorov called for wartime elections in a bombshell statement late on Tuesday.
Lawmakers were expected to vote on Wednesday on the appointment of Yevhenii Khmara, a former top special forces operative, as Ukraine's new defence minister after weeks of political turmoil over Fedorov's ouster.
The Independent View: Britain must meet Putin’s war of words with action
09:20 , Maira Butt
It was predictable that Russia would respond in its usual menacing fashion to the explosive arrival of British-made drones on its territory. These medium-range unmanned aerial vehicles, as they’re known in military circles, have participated in a recent Ukrainian campaign that has caused an estimated total of £35bn in economic damage to the Russian Federation.
Resentment at this intervention is palpable in the statement issued by the Russian embassy in London. It accused Britain, absurdly, of being “an accomplice and co-perpetrator of the bloody crimes and terrorist attacks committed by Ukrainian neo-Nazis”.
It was more accurate in identifying this intensification of British and Ukrainian cooperation – very much a mutually advantageous process – as an “escalation”. What it omitted was who it was that launched the illegal and, it turns out, doomed invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago.
Britain must meet Putin’s war of words with action
Watch: Zelensky urges G7 to stop critical supplies reaching Russia
08:50 , Maira Butt
Ukraine anti-graft agencies investigate group involving presidential officials
08:20 , Maira Butt
Ukraine's anti-graft agencies have said they were carrying out an operation to uncover a “criminal organisation” which was run by current and former lawmakers, and involving high officials from the presidential office.
The agencies did not give the details of the investigation, but said more information would come soon.
Russian drone attack on Ukraine's Kherson bus kills four, governor says
07:51 , Maira Butt
A Russian drone attack on a bus in Ukraine's southern city of Kherson killed four people on Wednesday morning, the regional governor said.
A further four women were wounded in the attack and have been taken to hospital, Oleksandr Prokudin said on the Telegram messaging app. He posted blurred photos of a yellow bus with bloodied steps and shattered windows.
Russia says it hits military cargo vessel in Black Sea
07:26 , Arpan Rai
Russian forces have struck a cargo vessel in the Black Sea near the Ukrainian port of Odesa, Russian news agency Interfax reported this morning.
Russia's defence ministry claimed the vessel was carrying military cargo.
Moscow warehouse burns as Ukraine drone crews prepare to strike again
07:05 , Arpan Rai
A massive retail logistics centre on the outskirts of Moscow remained in flames on Sunday morning following an overnight strike by waves of Ukrainian drones, sending thick dark smoke into the sky.
Hundreds of miles from the scene, Ukrainian drone operators had barely paused after their night operations before preparing for another attack.
In a sunflower field in southern Ukraine, a small unit of troops gathered around 20 small, plane-like drones packed with explosives, swiftly launching them towards targets in Russia.
The operation by Ukraine’s 413th "Raid" Unmanned Systems Regiment was witnessed by journalists, offering a rare look into a rapidly expanding element of Kyiv’s military capabilities.
Moscow warehouse burns as Ukraine drone crews prepare to strike again
Who is Mykhailo Fedorov? Everything you need to know about Ukraine’s sacked defence minister
06:28 , Arpan Rai
Rare wartime protests erupted in cities across Ukraine in July, following the dismissal of defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov just six months after his appointment.
Fedorov, 35, is the last remaining minister to have held positions in all of Zelensky’s governments, with the tech-savvy reformer remaining close to the president since his election in 2019.
Parliament is now set to vote on his replacement by Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, with it unclear as to whether Fedorov will be given another government job.
His supporters pointed to his role in turning battlefield momentum in Ukraine's favour this year, through ramping up drone purchases and a crucial intervention to cut Russian units off from Starlink internet services.
Who is Ukraine’s sacked defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov?
Drone causes fire in industrial area in Russia's Ufa, official says
06:22 , Arpan Rai
Authorities were trying to put out a small fire after a drone fell in an industrial area in the city of Ufa in the Russian republic of Bashkortostan, the republic's head Radiy Khabirov said on the messaging app Telegram.
Khabirov added that one of the drones hit an apartment building and a few cars in Ufa, an oil refining hub, leaving one person injured.
Watch: Minister hits back after Russia threat over Ukraine’s ‘use of British drones’ in record attacks
06:06 , Arpan Rai
Russian ex-officials say bank withdrawals show lack of trust in system
05:46 , Arpan Rai
Widespread bank withdrawals in Russia are causing liquidity problems, according to a former senior Russian finance official who spoke to the Washington Post.
“Drones are flying. Things are burning down. Nervousness is growing. And people’s everyday wisdom may be kicking in that they need to have cash under their pillow and not somewhere in banks where it may never be returned,” said a former finance official.
“For some banks this really is a problem,” the former official added.
“They didn’t expect this, and they invested all the cash elsewhere, and yet people are coming and taking out half a trillion rubles a month.”
Alexandra Prokopenko, a former adviser to the Russian Central Bank, said the withdrawals illustrated that the Russian public are scared.
“It means people have no trust in the Russian banking system or in the Russian financial system,” Prokopenko said.
“This is all a consequence of the fear that the government will do something with the banking system, that it could nationalise deposits.”
Watch: Ousted Ukraine defence minister calls for presidential election during war
05:34 , Arpan Rai
EU welcomes decision by eight countries to back restrictive measures against Belarus
05:30 , Arpan Rai
The European Union has welcomed the decision by Albania, Bosnia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway and Ukraine to align with its restrictive measures against Belarus, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a statement on Tuesday.
In July, the EU Council decided to impose restrictive measures against the country "in view of the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine".
Russia's Lavrov says Britain risks being seen as party to Ukraine war
04:56 , Arpan Rai
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia had the right to regard the direct involvement of Britain in strikes on Russian territory as participation in the war in Ukraine.
His comments came after the Times newspaper reported on Saturday that British-made drones had been used for long-range strikes against Russia for the first time.
Following the report, Russia's embassy in London warned Britain of unspecified "consequences" for supplying drones to Kyiv.
PM Andy Burnham said on Tuesday that Britain would support Ukraine "100%" in its fight against Russia and stand by Kyiv "in its hour of need".
Moscow has previously accused British specialists of involvement in attacks on Russian territory, saying Britain's role would be taken "into account" in its response.
Ukrainian power plant hit in Russian attack
04:33 , Arpan Rai
A thermal power plant in central Ukraine halted operations yesterday after it suffered significant damage from a Russian strike, power firm DTEK said.
The company declined to name the plant involved.
It said in a statement on Telegram that its thermal plants have been attacked more than 230 times by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Estonia PM says arson attack on defence contractor may be linked to Russia
04:11 , Arpan Rai
Estonia is investigating whether Russia was involved in an arson attack last week on a building housing a defence contractor, the Baltic country's prime minister said in a statement.
The building used by Milrem Robotics, a maker of unmanned military weapons systems deployed in Ukraine and elsewhere, was targeted late on Friday, a prosecutor earlier told public broadcaster ERR.
"The suspects have been identified. One of the lines of investigation is a possible act of sabotage and the involvement of Russia," Estonian prime minister Kristen Michal said on X.
Moscow has regularly denied accusations of planning or carrying out sabotage and other attacks on countries outside Ukraine, saying such reports are part of an anti-Russian propaganda campaign.
European countries bordering or near Russia are concerned that the war in Ukraine is spilling over into Nato's northern borders.
Ukraine's ousted defence minister challenges Zelensky and calls for wartime elections
03:57 , Arpan Rai
Ukraine’s former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for wartime elections in a bombshell address, arguing the nation faced a crisis of governance, in the biggest internal challenge yet to president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Fedorov issued his call for elections in a video address posted on YouTube, the first such demand by a major Ukrainian political figure since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
In what appeared to be an open challenge to Zelensky, Fedorov said Ukraine faced a "systemic crisis of governance”.
“The old system lives by its own rules too often. It protects itself. It is scared of change,” he said.
“Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia,” Fedorov said.
“We must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to renew its full democratic process even in the conditions of a long war.”
While Fedorov did not say in his address that he would compete in any election, a recent poll indicated the ex-minister would comfortably beat Zelensky in a runoff vote, where the top two presidential candidates go head-to-head.
Comment: Putin is an open threat to the UK – will his admirer Nigel Farage finally say so?
03:00 , Dan Haygarth
Vladimir Putin is displeased. British drones have been used by Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory. The Russian embassy has warned that “London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer”.
It said: “The deeper its involvement in the conflict, and the greater its support for Kyiv’s terrorist machinery, the higher the price it will pay.”
Andy Burnham has responded robustly. He said today: “We support Ukraine 100 per cent against this illegal war led by Vladimir Putin. We are providing support so that Ukraine can defend itself, and that’s been the British position all the way through this conflict.”
But what would Nigel Farage’s response have been, if he had been prime minister?
Read more:
Putin is an open threat to the UK – will his admirer Nigel Farage finally say so?
Recap: Burnham says he backs Ukraine 100% after Moscow’s threat over use of UK drones
02:00 , Dan Haygarth
Andy Burnham has said the UK is continuing to “support Ukraine 100%” after Moscow threatened consequences for the reported use of British drones for strikes deep into Russia.
Russia accused the UK of deliberately escalating the conflict and said the deeper the country’s involvement became, “the higher the price it will pay”.
During a visit to Wolverhampton bus station, Mr Burnham was asked what his message to Russian president Vladimir Putin was in response.
He said: “This is the UK doing what it has long said it would do, which is to support Ukraine 100 per cent against this illegal war led by Vladimir Putin.
“We are providing support so that Ukraine can defend itself, and that’s been the British position all the way through this conflict by previous prime ministers. It remains the case with me.
“We are not fair-weather friends. We will be there in Ukraine’s hour of need, and that won’t change.”
Ukraine used drones made by two UK companies as part of a so-called deep strike campaign, The Sunday Times reported.
Kyiv has stepped up its attacks on Russia this year, with long-range missiles and swarms of drones increasingly targeting military industries and energy facilities.
It has also targeted giant depots for Wildberries – Russia’s largest online retailer – burning billions of pounds of merchandise and bringing the war home to the Russian public more than four years into Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s embassy to the UK said in a statement on Monday that the reports “confirm that London is deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis” and accused Britain of “seeking to contain Russia and inflict maximum damage on it by proxy”.
“London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer,” it added.
“The deeper its involvement in the conflict and the greater its support for Kyiv’s terrorist machinery, the higher the price it will pay.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “Britain stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and we are committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against Putin’s illegal invasion.
“Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this Government to stand against Russian aggression, in Ukraine and against the UK and our allies.”
Watch: Minister hits back after Russia threat over Ukraine’s ‘use of British drones’ in record attacks
01:00 , Daniel Haygarth
Editorial: Britain must meet Putin’s war of words with action
Tuesday 18 August 2026 23:59 , Dan Haygarth
It was predictable that Russia would respond in its usual menacing fashion to the explosive arrival of British-made drones on its territory. These medium-range unmanned aerial vehicles, as they’re known in military circles, have participated in a recent Ukrainian campaign that has caused an estimated total of £35bn in economic damage to the Russian Federation.
Resentment at this intervention is palpable in the statement issued by the Russian embassy in London. It accused Britain, absurdly, of being “an accomplice and co-perpetrator of the bloody crimes and terrorist attacks committed by Ukrainian neo-Nazis”.
Read more:
Britain must meet Putin’s war of words with action
Russia strikes cargo vessel carrying Ukrainian weapons
Tuesday 18 August 2026 23:00 , Suha Kidwai
Russian military drones have struck a cargo vessel carrying weapons and equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces in the Black Sea to the south-east of Odesa on Tuesday, the Russian Defence Ministry has said in a statement.
According to Ukraine's port administration, 57 Russian attacks have been carried out on civilian vessels in July alone.
A further 67 hits on port infrastructure have been recorded.
The Black Sea remains a vital export route for Ukraine.
With almost no vessels currently moving on Ukraine's Black Sea shipping corridor, Ukraine is expected to feel the cost of attacks affecting its maritime infrastructure.
Ukrainian minister thanks Belgium for support over war
Tuesday 18 August 2026 22:00 , Suha Kidwai
Foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha has thanks Belgium for its support for Ukraine.
In a post on X, the official shared that Belgium’s total contribution to the Ukrainian war effort is valued at over €4.6 billion.
Pleased to welcome my friend and Belgian colleague @prevotmaxime on his official visit to Ukraine.
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) August 18, 2026
Due to Russian drones attacking our capital, we held our talks underground in the @MFA_Ukraine bomb shelter—a daily reality for millions of Ukrainians, shared by our Belgian guests… pic.twitter.com/Lxxt3Swccq
“We deeply value the more than €1 billion in military aid provided this year bilaterally and through multilateral programs,” the minister added.
In pictures: Ukraine grapples with devastating aftermath of Russian strikes
Tuesday 18 August 2026 21:00 , Suha Kidwai
'Fear that the government will do something with the banking system'
Tuesday 18 August 2026 20:14 , Dan Haygarth
The widespread bank withdrawals in Russia are causing liquidity problems, according to a former senior Russian finance official who spoke to the newspaper.
“Drones are flying. Things are burning down. Nervousness is growing. And people’s everyday wisdom may be kicking in that they need to have cash under their pillow and not somewhere in banks where it may never be returned,” said a former finance official.
“For some banks this really is a problem,” the former official added.
“They didn’t expect this, and they invested all the cash elsewhere, and yet people are coming and taking out half a trillion rubles a month.”
Alexandra Prokopenko, a former adviser to the Russian Central Bank, said the withdrawals illustrated that the Russian public are scared.
“It means people have no trust in the Russian banking system or in the Russian financial system,” Prokopenko said.
“This is all a consequence of the fear that the government will do something with the banking system, that it could nationalise deposits.”
Russians ‘withdraw billions’ from banks amid fears Putin could seize money
Tuesday 18 August 2026 20:04 , Dan Haygarth
People in Russia are withdrawing billions from the nation’s banks over fears that the Kremlin could begin to seize money to finance the war with Ukraine, a report says.
According to The Washington Post, the country is seeing a record cash outflow amid intensifying drone strikes from Ukraine.
Nearly 286.4bn rubles (worth $3.4bn) was withdrawn in the first two weeks of August, according to data from the Russian Central Bank, reported in The Post.
That follows $7.3bn withdrawn last month and more than $4.5bn in June.
The withdrawals are causing liquidity problems in the country, according to a former senior Russian finance official, the newspaper says.
“Drones are flying. Things are burning down. Nervousness is growing. And people’s everyday wisdom may be kicking in that they need to have cash under their pillow and not somewhere in banks where it may never be returned”, a source told The Post.
Ukraine military announces plan to equip '100%' of drones with AI technology
Tuesday 18 August 2026 20:00 , Suha Kidwai
Kyiv aims to ensure that every drone on the front line is equipped with AI capabilities, the Ukrainian ministry of defence has said.
The target comes alongside Ukrainian plans for an “AI-driven army,” where the ministry plans for target identification, engagement, and battle damage assessment to be completed using AI technology.
The government has said that the move is designed to save the lives of Ukrainian service members, and maximise the effectiveness of frontline operations.
Ukrainian power plant damaged by Russian strike, halts operations
Tuesday 18 August 2026 19:46 , Dan Haygarth
A thermal power plant in central Ukraine halted operations on Tuesday after it suffered significant damage from a Russian strike, power firm DTEK said.
The company declined to name the plant involved. It said in a statement on Telegram that its thermal plants have been attacked more than 230 times by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Putin 'refuses peace' says Ukrainian foreign minister
Tuesday 18 August 2026 19:00 , Suha Kidwai
Ukrainian officials have accused Putin of prolonging the war.
“Putin continues to drag out the war instead of accepting Ukraine’s realistic ceasefire proposals and ending the bloodshed,” Ukrainian foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha has said in a post on X.
Putin continues to drag out the war instead of accepting Ukraine’s realistic ceasefire proposals and ending the bloodshed.
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) August 18, 2026
A Russian strike on the village of Pechenihy in the Kharkiv region killed at least 10 people. Ten residential houses were damaged, along with a cafe, a post… pic.twitter.com/3wQS6lQa01
“As long as Moscow refuses peace, it must face a growing cost for prolonging this war through additional sanctions, isolation, and strict accountability for Russian crimes,” the minister added.
Russia waging 'hybrid war,' say European governments
Tuesday 18 August 2026 18:00 , Suha Kidwai
In light of the previously reported Russian parcel-bomb plot, German interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt has spoken out on the consequences of hybrid warfare.
"The aim of these hybrid attacks is to defeat us politically and socially. That is the underlying concept: hybrid threats acting as a driver for the erosion of public trust in the state," he said.
"What we are witnessing today is the shadow war of the 21st century," the minister added.
German court convicts Ukrainian man over parcel bomb plot tied to Russia
Tuesday 18 August 2026 17:00 , Suha Kidwai
A German court has convicted a Ukrainian man over what prosecutors have described as a plot linked to Russian intelligence.
The plan is understood to involve detonating parcels in Europe with the purpose of causing damage and undermining public confidence in security.
Three Ukrainians were involved in sending two packages with GPS trackers and spare auto parts from Germany to Ukraine using a Ukrainian parcel service in an operation initiated by a Russian state entity, the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart has said in a statement.
Drone explodes near Ukrainian nuclear facility
Tuesday 18 August 2026 16:00 , Suha Kidwai
A drone has exploded at a bus stop used by staff of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the International Atomic Energy Agency has said.
The explosion is confirmed to have killed one person, and injured several others.
Zelensky nominates Khmara for new defence minister amid protests
Tuesday 18 August 2026 15:30 , Suha Kidwai
President Zelensky has nominated Yevhenii Khmara for parliamentary approval for defence minister and Andrii Sybiha for foreign minister, lawmakers said on Tuesday.
Khmara served as acting minister following the abrupt dismissal of his predecessor, Mykhailo Fedorov, in July, a decision that sparked a political crisis for Zelensky.
The vote is expected to take place on Wednesday.
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