President Donald Trump signed a U.S. law on September 18 that strengthens sanctions targeting Russia’s war economy. It also gives the White House authority to impose high tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
Russian military enlistment offices may have issued mobilization orders to several hundred thousand men, according to an independent legal expert. The Kremlin denies that it is preparing a new mobilization, and the real scale of the practice remains unclear.
A Russian strike on the Kametstal steel plant in Kamianske killed five people and stopped production. The plant has begun emergency repairs, but the date for restarting work is not yet known.
A Russian drone strike on a warehouse in Myla, near Kyiv, caused a fire and major explosions. Ukrainian officials said that 38 people had been killed by August 30, while the UN monitored an inquiry into the attack and ammunition storage.
Russian drones struck a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih on August 21, killing 16 people and injuring more than 130. Ukrainian authorities said the attack came in two waves as emergency services responded.
Ukraine launched hundreds of drones across Russia on August 16, 2026. Russian regional authorities said at least six people were killed, while Russia also continued attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy made his first official visit to Serbia and met Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade. The leaders discussed economic ties, humanitarian aid, reconstruction, and Serbia’s position on Russia-related sanctions.
Fuel shortages and sales limits have continued in parts of Russia, with Siberian regions facing particular difficulties. Lower refinery output after Ukrainian strikes has contributed to the problem, while Russia has extended an export ban and is considering supplies from Kazakhstan.
The Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk stopped loading tankers amid increased drone activity. Separate attacks at the nearby CPC terminal also reduced Kazakhstan’s oil production and disrupted regional exports.
Ukrainian drones struck two Wildberries logistics centers in southern Russia, causing fires and injuring workers. Ukraine said the facilities supported military supplies, but that claim has not been independently verified.
