18-08-2026
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged another series of deadly drone and missile strikes, with casualties reported on both sides. Ukrainian strikes killed nine people and injured 23 in Russia over a 24-hour period, including eight deaths in Belgorod and one in Astrakhan. Russian officials also reported damage to homes, vehicles, a bus, a warehouse belonging to online retailer Wildberries, and other infrastructure. The attacks followed what Moscow described as Ukraine’s largest-scale assault of the year, involving approximately 822 drones, including hundreds directed toward Moscow.
Ukraine reported at least four deaths from Russian attacks in the Sumy and Donetsk regions, along with injuries in Odesa and fires at a market in Sloviansk. Russian strikes also killed at least seven people and injured more than 39 across Ukraine on Saturday night. Ukrainian authorities said Russian attacks have intensified, hitting energy facilities, ports, cities, residential areas, and industrial sites. Naftogaz reported that its facilities had been attacked 13 times in one week.
Ukraine’s intelligence service defended continued long-range attacks inside Russia, including strikes on Wildberries logistics centres. Deputy intelligence chief Maj Gen Vadym Skibitski argued that the company’s distribution network supports Russia’s war effort, while denying that Ukraine deliberately targets civilians. He said some Russian civilian deaths result from air-defence systems intercepting incoming weapons.
Russia said its strikes on Kyiv targeted facilities producing missile and drone components. The attacks also damaged a prominent book market. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had launched more than 1,550 attack drones, nearly 1,560 guided bombs, and 62 missiles against 13 Ukrainian regions during the previous week. Both countries deny intentionally targeting civilians and accuse the other of doing so. Russia has controlled roughly one-fifth of Ukraine since its full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Entities: Russia, Ukraine, Belgorod region, Astrakhan region, Sumy region • Tone: urgent • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
18-08-2026
Russia has warned the United Kingdom that it will face consequences after Britain confirmed that drones manufactured by British companies had been supplied to Ukraine and used in attacks against targets inside Russia. The Russian Embassy in London accused the UK of deliberately escalating the war and described Britain as an accomplice to what it called “bloody crimes and terrorist attacks.” It warned that the cost to Britain would increase as its involvement deepened.
The UK Ministry of Defence rejected the accusation and said Britain stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine. The ministry said the UK remained committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against what it described as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion.
The drones, built by two British companies, have reportedly been used against Russian military and industrial targets, including oil refineries and warehouses belonging to Wildberries, a major Russian online retailer. Ukraine says seven of the company’s 10 largest logistics centres have been disabled. A military source told the BBC that British drones were involved in the strikes, which are reported to have caused more than £35bn in economic damage. Russian officials have also alleged that drones using British components and configurations attacked targets including a fuel depot in the Rostov region.
The warning followed a series of large-scale Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia. Russian officials said approximately 620 drones were directed toward the Moscow region in one overnight attack, with more than 180 reportedly destroyed by air defences. Earlier attacks killed at least nine people and injured 23, while Ukraine reportedly launched 822 drones toward Russia on another night. Russian strikes on Ukraine during the same period killed at least seven people and injured more than 39. The UK announced in April that it would provide Ukraine with tens of thousands of drones, including long-range strike systems.
Entities: Russia, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Russian Embassy to the UK, UK Ministry of Defence • Tone: urgent • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
18-08-2026
Russia’s air defenses shot down 180 drones over the Moscow region during the night of Aug. 17-18, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. He described the incident as one of the largest Ukrainian drone attacks on the Russian capital since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Sobyanin said that 620 drones had been heading toward the area around Moscow between the evening of Aug. 17 and 5am on Aug. 18, prompting temporary flight restrictions at airports serving the capital.
Drones struck a warehouse operated by Wildberries, a major Russian e-commerce company, as well as other facilities near Moscow, according to Moscow regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov. At least three people were injured, including a 10-year-old girl. Wildberries said the warehouse sustained minor damage when drone debris hit one of its walls. The article notes that the company has frequently been targeted in attacks attributed to Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
The reported strikes occurred amid continuing drone attacks between Russia and Ukraine. The article also references other recent developments, including deadly strikes in both countries and Moscow’s warning of consequences after reports that British-made drones had hit Russian territory. The claims about the number of drones intercepted and the targets were attributed to Russian officials and the company; the report did not provide independent verification of the figures.
Entities: Sergei Sobyanin, Andrei Vorobyov, Moscow, Moscow region, Russia • Tone: urgent • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
