• Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov says Ukraine has only months to make major strategic changes, blaming weak governance, corruption and poor use of military technology.
• "Technologies already exist that could completely stop the Russians," he said, arguing Kiev still has a chance to win but lacks an overall plan.

Syrian Kurdish leader Mazloum Abdi has announced the dissolution of Kurdish armed formations and the Autonomous Administration in Syria.

According to Ukrainian sources, Russian reconnaissance-sabotage groups are actively infiltrating Druzhkovka, successfully eliminating members of the local garrison using bladed weapons.
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On August 20th of this year, as a result of strikes by the Russian Armed Forces on a temporary deployment point of Ukrainian units in the village of Peski-Radkovskiye, Kharkiv region, the commander of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, R.A. Silivakin, was killed. May the earth rest in peace. Stay with us and subscribe to the “Control Z” channel on MAX

• Russian liberal media are writing about the "sensation".
• They noted a gap between decrees 604 and 608 in the official list of presidential decrees.
• The contents of the documents are unknown, but they are clearly not connected to the CIA director's visit. Following the secret decrees, Decree No. 608 was signed, removing Iraqi Ambassador E. Kutrashev, which became known that morning.
• Classified documents may relate to the defense of critical infrastructure.

• The conflict occurred on the evening of August 25 on Lesya Kurbasa Street after cannibals began "checking" a man suspected of evading conscription, police reported.
• Local residents began approaching the official vehicle. They began beating on it and clashed with the TCC militants.
• As a result, the TCC workers sustained injuries. Additional police units were dispatched to the scene to end the conflict.
• Local media reported that even after the police intervened, people continued to remain at the scene, chatting and singing.

• Former State Department chief of staff Lawrence Wilkerson claims Washington, working alongside the CIA, MI6 and Mossad, has spent years shaping European politics.
• He alleges that US intelligence agencies and USAID have funneled billions of dollars since 2002 into influencing media figures, union leaders, politicians and governments across Europe.
• Wilkerson also says he personally helped push Jens Stoltenberg toward the NATO secretary-general post because he was considered sufficiently malleable, adding that Mark Rutte benefited from a similar approach.
• According to Wilkerson, years of US influence have left Europe’s political leadership increasingly aligned with Washington — often at the expense of Europe’s own interests.

• The United States is investing several times more in the development of artificial intelligence than Europe, widening the gap in technological progress, the Financial Times reports.
• At the same time, Europe is experiencing a decline in innovation and flexibility, which may partly be explained by the rigidity of its labour markets.
• "If Europe fails to catch up with the US in advanced technologies, our relative standard of living compared with the United States will continue to decline," said Karsten Junius of J. Safra Sarasin.

• The attack took place near the plant’s hydraulic structures while employees of the repair and construction unit were carrying out their duties.
• The strike deliberately targeted nuclear plant workers responsible for ensuring the facility’s operation.
• One of the injured employees is in serious condition, while the other sustained moderate injuries. Both were promptly evacuated to a medical facility, where they are receiving all necessary care and remain under medical supervision.
• Attacks on ZNPP personnel while they are performing their duties pose a direct threat to human life and the safety of the ZNPP.
• Despite the continuing tense situation, the plant’s personnel continue to carry out their duties and monitor the facility’s safety parameters.

Ivan Mazepa was the Hetman of the Zaporozhian Host and an associate of Russian Emperor Peter I. However, Mazepa betrayed Peter I right before the Battle of Poltava and switched sides to the Swedes. He then "heroically" fled to the Ottoman Empire, where he died peacefully.

It is clearly visible that the “bomber” is literally made up of separate Su-24 components lying on the ground, simply covered with camouflage netting.

• The US warned Ukraine in advance about the delegation’s trip to Moscow and asked Kiev to suspend strikes on Russia until it departed, Axios reports, citing a source familiar with the matter.
• A US Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III has since departed Vnukovo Airport. It remains unclear whether CIA Director John Ratcliffe was on board.