Trump is out of power, with Putin now leading the way.
In the past week, the military situation in Ukraine has remained volatile, with both sides engaging in offensive operations and counterattacks.
Ukrainian Offensive Operations
Ukrainian troops have been conducting incursions into Russian territory, most notably in the Kursk Oblast region. Despite intense fighting around August 8-9, Ukrainian forces have managed to maintain a presence in the Hlushkove district of the Kursk region as of August 6, 2025.
Ukraine has also been using drones to launch strikes against Russian military and energy infrastructure. Last week, over 1,400 Russian drones attacked Ukraine, while Ukraine itself increased its drone raids into Russia, targeting missile component plants, for example, in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.
Russian Offensive Operations
Russian forces have been actively advancing along the eastern and southern axes in Ukraine. Notable progress was made near Dobropillia in Donetsk Oblast, where Russian forces breached Ukrainian defenses, seized nearby settlements, and positioned themselves to push toward a key highway (Dobropillia–Kramatorsk) for further attacks. However, Russian advances in western Zaporizhia and around Lyman have not resulted in confirmed territorial gains recently.
Sabotage and Drone/Missile Campaigns
Russian strikes on Ukraine have seen a slight easing in intensity in early August compared to July. Daily averages of drone and missile attacks have dropped from 201 drones and six missiles to around 74 drones and one missile daily. Ukraine’s leadership continues to emphasize ongoing and expanded long-range strikes to pressure Russia into negotiations, while insisting on defending sovereignty and abstaining from territorial concessions.
In a significant development, a Ukrainian kamikaze drone destroyed a strategically important bridge in the Russian region of Belgorod.
Political Developments
Two 17-year-olds allegedly set off an explosive device in the Ukrainian city of Shytomyr, killing one man and seriously injuring another. The White House has not confirmed any plans for a summit meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, despite reports from Moscow suggesting otherwise. The White House has announced a trilateral meeting with Putin and Selenskyj, but Putin has made it clear that this meeting will not take place before the deadline set by Washington.
Ukrainian and European security advisors held an extended video conference with Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of Donald Trump, to discuss ways to achieve lasting peace. However, it remains unclear where the negotiations between the USA and Russia in the Ukraine war stand, and what special envoy Witkoff has achieved.
In the event of an attack on German or NATO territory, the German military expects a high number of psychologically strained soldiers.
Conclusion
The past week shows continued Ukrainian cross-border and drone operations inside Russia, steady but limited Russian offensive maneuvers in eastern Ukraine with isolated breakthroughs, and a high tempo of drone/missile exchanges between the sides with somewhat reduced Russian strike volume in early August. The political landscape remains uncertain, with ongoing negotiations between the USA and Russia, and the potential for a meeting between Trump and Putin in the near future.
- In the midst of the ongoing volatility in Ukraine, community discussions surrounding the employment policy are focusing on the impact of war-and-conflicts on the workforce and potential job losses due to trade sanctions between Ukraine and other countries.
- With the political developments in the general news, employment policies of several nations are under review to cater to the increasing number of refugees from Ukraine, highlighting the intertwining of politics and employment in times of war-and-conflicts.
