Ukrainian ground drones armed with grenade launchers are being outfitted by a defensive company based in Ukraine.
In the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, various developments are taking place on both military and diplomatic fronts.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have emphasised that peace cannot be imposed on Ukraine but must be achieved together with the government in Kyiv. Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov hopes that the meeting between Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will improve relations with the USA.
On the military front, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of further Russian advances on Ukrainian territory. To counter this, Ukrainian defense company Frontline and Estonian manufacturer Milrem Robotics have integrated a 40mm grenade launcher into an unmanned ground vehicle, resulting in a highly capable combat support system currently operational in Ukraine. This integrated system, known as the BURIA remote weapon station (RWS) on Milrem’s THeMIS unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), underwent live-fire trials in Ukraine under realistic combat conditions, demonstrating precise target engagement at distances up to 1,100 meters while keeping operators remotely protected.
The BURIA RWS entered service in January 2025 and is now in serial production, with active deployment and dedicated frontline training programs underway. Further live-fire and tactical validation trials are planned to optimize performance across different battlefield scenarios. This project is described as a significant example of Ukrainian innovation combined with European engineering, emphasizing robotic systems’ growing tactical role while improving soldier safety.
Europe has provided more military aid to Ukraine through the arms industry since the start of the Russian invasion than the USA. However, Hungary’s government has refused to sign a joint statement by the other 26 EU countries supporting US President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the Russian war against Ukraine.
On the diplomatic front, Chancellor's chief of staff Thorsten Frei has warned of Moscow’s aggressive policy and the need for Germany to be defense-ready. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul dismissed speculation about possible territorial concessions by Ukraine for peace with Russia, emphasising that violence must not redraw borders.
In related news, former German ambassador to Russia, Rüdiger von Fritsch, has criticized the quality of current American diplomacy in the Ukraine conflict. The non-governmental organization "Stand Up Alaska" plans to hold a protest ahead of the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Elsewhere, a Russian oil refinery in the Saratov region is said to have stopped oil production following a drone attack by Ukraine, potentially impacting the country’s gasoline supply. Russia and Belarus plan to hold a joint exercise from September 12 to 16.
In a significant turn of events, at least a dozen foreign volunteers were killed in a Russian attack on a Ukrainian military training camp on July 21. Trump has agreed to Putin’s strategy of first discussing content and then a ceasefire. However, the Russian air force appears to have bombed targets within its own country in the Belgorod region, according to recordings of calls from Russian citizens. Russia also appears to have conducted initial tests to shut down video and audio calls via WhatsApp and Telegram, as part of creating a "sovereign internet" disconnected from global networks.
These developments underscore the complexity and ongoing nature of the conflict in Ukraine, with both military and diplomatic efforts playing crucial roles in shaping its course.
- The British and Canadian prime ministers have stressed the importance of a community policy that involves the Ukrainian government in Kyiv, as peace cannot be imposed, but achieved together.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts between Russia and Ukraine have led to politics and general news that encompass military advancements, diplomatic discussions, and international aid, highlighting the complexity and ongoing nature of the conflict.
