The Russia-Ukraine war entered another intense week with heavy fighting continuing along the eastern and southeastern fronts, while Ukraine expanded its campaign of long-range strikes against Russian military and energy infrastructure. Ukrainian battlefield gains were seen in the southeast, alongside attacks on oil refineries deep inside Russia and a major strike on Russia’s Black Sea naval base at Novorossiysk. Russia, meanwhile, maintained pressure on Ukrainian positions and continued missile, drone and glide-bomb attacks on cities and industrial infrastructure, causing fresh civilian casualties.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian forces had retaken 745 square kilometers of territory since the beginning of the year in what Kyiv describes as the Oleksandrivka operation. Zelensky claimed that Ukrainian troops regained 26 settlements along a roughly 60-kilometer section of the front. Independent Ukrainian battlefield monitor DeepState has confirmed the recapture of 19 settlements and Ukrainian advances in several additional areas, although battlefield claims remain difficult to verify independently.
Russian troops continue offensive operations in Donetsk region, particularly around the Kostiantynivka-Druzhkivka area, while Ukrainian forces have recently made limited advances near Kupiansk. The fighting increasingly consists of small-unit infantry assaults, drone-supported operations and localized attempts to penetrate defensive positions rather than the large armored breakthroughs seen earlier in the war.
Ukraine’s growing ability to strike deep inside Russia was even more visible away from the front. Kyiv continued its systematic campaign against Russia’s oil-refining sector, seeking to disrupt fuel production, military logistics and a major source of revenue for Moscow.
One of the most consequential attacks came on August 11, when Ukrainian forces struck the Orsknefteorgsintez refinery in Russia’s Orenburg region, roughly 1,900 kilometers from Ukraine. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed the attack and said a fire had broken out at the facility. Industry sources later told Reuters that the refinery had halted processing after equipment was damaged. The plant has an annual capacity of approximately 5.76 million metric tons, or about 115,000 barrels per day, and produces gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel and other petroleum products.
On August 10, drones struck Nizhnekamsk in Tatarstan, where the major TANECO refinery is located. Russian authorities said 13 people, including a child, were killed and 39 injured in the attack, with residential areas also affected. Ukraine acknowledged targeting the refinery as part of its campaign against infrastructure supporting Russia’s war effort. Earlier in the week, Ukrainian attacks were also reported against refineries in Syzran and Ilsky.
Another strategically important series of strikes occurred near Gelendzhik on Russia’s Black Sea coast, close to the luxury residence widely known as “Putin’s Palace.” On August 7, Ukrainian drones targeted a Volna Kupol Garant electronic warfare system designed to interfere with Starlink communications. A second attack days later targeted an S-400 air-defense system and launcher only about 500 meters from the site of the earlier strike. The facilities are located just kilometers from the Black Sea complex associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Major Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, said the S-400 fired six missiles during the attack before the system was left burning for several hours. The attacks demonstrate Ukraine’s increasing focus on destroying Russian air defenses and electronic warfare systems before launching deeper strikes against strategically important areas.
The campaign culminated this week in a major Ukrainian attack on Novorossiysk, Russia’s principal remaining Black Sea naval stronghold. Ukrainian drones, missiles and unmanned systems struck the port overnight on August 11-12, damaging naval and port infrastructure and disrupting operations at major grain terminals. Ukraine said several Russian warships were damaged, while the attack also forced two large grain terminals to suspend operations. Russian authorities reported three deaths, including a child, and damage to residential and commercial buildings.
Novorossiysk has become increasingly important to Russia since repeated Ukrainian attacks forced much of the Black Sea Fleet away from occupied Crimea. The port is also a major grain and oil-export hub, giving attacks there both military and economic significance. Russia accused Kyiv of threatening global food security after grain operations were disrupted, while Ukraine points to repeated Russian attacks on its own Black Sea and Danube port infrastructure. Ukrainian grain exports in the first half of August were reportedly 76% lower than during the same period last year.
Ukraine has, however, apparently placed some limits on its campaign. Reuters reported that Kyiv temporarily stopped attacks on tankers using Novorossiysk following a US request to avoid ships and infrastructure connected to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which carries predominantly Kazakh oil and is important to global energy markets.
Russia continued its own long-range campaign against Ukraine throughout the week. On August 11, Russian missile, drone and glide-bomb attacks killed at least 10 civilians. Seven employees of the Zaporizhstal steel plant were killed when a ballistic missile struck the industrial facility in Zaporizhzhia, while three people, including a 15-year-old boy, were killed in Dnipropetrovsk region. The Zaporizhzhia strike also damaged energy and industrial facilities and forced Zaporizhstal to suspend operations. Russian strikes also hit Kyiv, including the grounds of a children’s hospital and a warehouse.
Earlier in the weekend, a Russian strike on Kharkiv killed three people, while an attack on Odesa wounded eight. Across the border, Ukrainian drone attacks killed five people in Russia’s Belgorod region. The mounting civilian toll prompted Pope Leo to renew his appeal for an end to the war and for respect for international humanitarian law.
The intensifying air war has again highlighted Ukraine’s shortage of high-end air-defense interceptors. Zelensky has continued to urge partners, particularly the United States and European NATO members, to accelerate deliveries of Patriot missiles as Russia expands its use of ballistic weapons. Kyiv has also begun developing its own ballistic and anti-ballistic capabilities under the European FREYJA program, with Ukraine expected to contribute domestically produced missiles and launchers while European partners provide radars, sensors and other critical components.
Diplomatic efforts continued despite little evidence that the fighting is approaching an end. Zelensky said this week that Kyiv had submitted new proposals to US negotiators aimed at ending the war. The details have not been made public, but the Ukrainian president said Washington could play a decisive role by strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses while increasing pressure on Moscow. US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to continue contacts with both Kyiv and Moscow after months of negotiations that have so far failed to produce a lasting ceasefire.
Prisoner exchanges also remain one of the few areas where limited cooperation continues. Russia this week published a list of 224 Ukrainian prisoners it said it was prepared to exchange, although Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of obstructing the process. Ukraine insists it remains committed to bringing home all Ukrainian prisoners.
Compiled by Ana Dumbadze
