Ukraine Responds to Russian Attacks on Strategic Assets

Ukraine intensifies military actions as Russia readies to seize companies deemed vulnerable to attacks. New drone strikes target key Russian installations.

As the conflict between Ukraine and Russia escalates, a new presidential decree from Vladimir Putin empowers the Russian government to take control of companies like Wildberries and Ozon. This move arises from concerns that these companies are inadequately protected from attacks launched by Ukrainian forces. The decree grants the state the authority to seize both physical and financial assets of entities that fail to safeguard crucial infrastructure from Ukrainian military strikes.

Recently, Ukraine has ramped up its drone attacks, targeting key facilities including oil refineries and e-commerce warehouses across Russia. On Monday, Ukrainian military forces successfully struck a Russian Mig-29 fighter plane and two vessels in the Black Sea, marking a significant increase in military operations. According to Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine’s drone forces, this attack is the third incidence of targeting Russian aircraft in just two days.

Additionally, Ukraine’s military has targeted a Russian military plant in Kamensky, Rostov region, resulting in a fire at the facility that produces solid rocket fuel for Russian weaponry. The Perm oil refinery, which ranks as Russia’s seventh-largest refinery, has ceased operations following a drone attack on August 21, as reported by two industry sources. The primary unit, which accounts for nearly 40% of its capacity, remains offline, with repairs expected to take one to two weeks.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has urged Ukraine’s allies to dig into their reserves for Patriot interceptor missiles, emphasizing that Ukraine requires immediate assistance to better protect its citizens. During his first meeting with the ‘coalition of the willing’ in Kyiv, coinciding with Ukraine’s independence day celebrations, Burnham reiterated the coalition’s commitment to support Ukraine. He called for the United States Congress to increase economic pressure on Russia, which is grappling with significant budget deficits and declining oil revenues.

In a separate development, ten Ukrainian prisoners of war, previously classified as missing in action, have been released as part of a prisoner exchange, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While details about the exchanged prisoners remain sparse, it was noted that this release occurred via Belarus, an ally of Moscow. Russia has yet to comment on whether any of its soldiers were returned in the exchange.