Daily Update: Russia's Ongoing Conflict with Ukraine - Insights Direct from Ukraine
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, now in its third year, continues with active combat operations and territorial shifts but no clear resolution in sight. Since January, Ukraine has tripled its long-range drone strikes on Russian territory, launching nearly 14,000 drones this year.
Civilian impact remains significant, with instances of war crimes documented, though recent casualty counts are not specified. Reports do indicate serious human rights concerns, including the implicated execution of Ukrainian POWs by a Russian soldier in 2024, underscoring continued violations and suffering.
The recent U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska has sparked cautious diplomatic discussion. Russian demands remain firm, particularly regarding control over the Donbass region. There is growing discussion about providing Ukraine with security guarantees, potentially akin to a collective security arrangement, backed by the U.S. and European powers, aimed at deterring further Russian aggression should a peace deal be reached.
European officials urged Washington to use its economic leverage to enforce any ceasefire with strict consequences for Moscow, if violated. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed Putin’s readiness to continue direct negotiations in the Istanbul format, signaling a diplomatic channel remains open despite ongoing hostilities.
Ukraine has deployed at least 48 domestically-produced Neptune cruise missiles and 29 U.K.-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. Russian daytime strikes in Ukraine between August 8-11 resulted in the death of at least 41 non-combatants and injured more than 130. Ukrainian officials confess that their current air defense stockpiles, including Patriot missiles, cannot keep up with the pace of Russia's attacks.
In the eastern province of Donetsk, shelling killed eight civilians and injured 34 others. In the bordering southeastern Zaporizhzhia oblast, drone attacks and other strikes resulted in six civilian deaths and injuries to 28 others. Another eight people were killed in the southern Kherson region, with at least 28 others wounded.
President Trump indicated that the negotiations might include discussions on territorial exchanges between Russia and Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have confirmed plans to meet in Alaska on Aug. 15. The total cost of Russia's drone war in 2025 is estimated to be around $5.7 billion for drones alone.
In response, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy set ambitious production goals for 2025: 30,000 long-range drones and 3,000 cruise and drone-missiles. Ukraine is betting that better precision and swiftly scaling production will begin closing the gap with Russia before human and financial costs become unbearable. As of now, Russia is spending roughly thirteen times more than Ukraine in this domain.
Russia has launched approximately 29,000 Shahed drones and over 900 missiles against Ukraine since the beginning of 2025. July was the most intense month for Russian attacks, with over 6,000 drones launched. The total value of drones launched against Russia is estimated to be between $700 million and $1.1 billion.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed concern over the conciliatory U.S. approach to the negotiations and emphasized the need for progress from the meeting. The Alaska summit has undoubtedly added another layer of complexity to the already intricate geopolitical landscape of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
- The Alaska summit between Trump and Putin has brought a peace plan from Trump for Ukraine and Russia, including discussions on territorial exchanges, while President Zelenskyy is aiming to increase Ukraine's production of long-range drones and missiles to reduce the gap with Russia.
- The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, marked by war crimes and significant civilian casualties, has sparked cautious diplomatic discussions, as the recent Alaska meeting between Trump and Putin has opened a diplomatic channel for negotiations and might include territorial exchange suggestions, but European officials urge Washington to enforce strict consequences for any ceasefire violations by Moscow.
