Russian Sberbank is expanding its influence in the occupied territories of Ukraine, integrating them into the Russian financial system. Sberbank's subsidiary, "SberMobile", has started operating in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, becoming the first Russian federal operator in these territories.
Peskov stated that the preparatory work for the meeting between Putin and Zelensky has not yet been completed. Putin considers the meeting possible after all issues are resolved at the expert level.
Expert Vitaliy Begma said that Russians are adding a flammable mixture to "Shaheds" to intensify fires. Ukraine has learned to combat these drones, which are not as dangerous as ballistic missiles.
Russia is actively re-equipping Donetsk airport for launching attack drones. This will allow it to reduce the reaction time of Ukrainian air defense and increase the number of attacks.
Russian troops made minor advances in the Lyman and Pokrovsk directions, according to an analytical report by ISW. Geolocated footage confirms Russian advances east of Lyman and in the area of Novoukrainka.
ISW analysts claim that the Kremlin is not interested in a compromise that does not mean Ukraine's capitulation. Lavrov's statements from August 1 are consistent with the positions of Putin and Lukashenka, confirming Moscow's unchanged demands.
Vladimir Putin stated that negotiations with Ukraine are in demand, but emphasized that Russia's demands from June 2024 remain valid. Moscow is ready to wait if Kyiv believes now is not the time for negotiations.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia will continue the war against Ukraine, despite Trump's 10-day ultimatum. The Kremlin seeks to normalize relations with the US and strengthen cooperation to avoid the deadline.
Analysts believe that Putin will not make concessions in the war, as this would question the expediency of the military campaign in the eyes of Russian society. The Kremlin is actively building domestic support for the war, portraying Russia as a country fighting the West.
Russian forces have increased the intensity of armored vehicle use in tactical attacks since early July 2025, conducting smaller mechanized assaults. This follows a decrease in their use during the winter of 2024-2025 and the absence of company-sized mechanized assaults since April 2025.
Russia is increasing its production of missiles and drones, which will allow it to launch larger-scale attacks on Ukraine in the autumn of 2025. ISW analysts predict up to 2,000 drones per night by November 2025.
Russian officials are delaying top-level negotiations between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia. The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) notes that Russia is only feigning interest in negotiations to buy time.
The water crisis in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine is intensifying, leading to unsanitary living conditions. The Khanzhenkivske reservoir has become shallow, and the Don-Donbas water pipeline has reached critically low levels, causing a water shortage in the Donetsk region and Berdiansk.
ISW analysts believe that only significant military failures will force Putin to reconsider Russia's ability to defeat Ukraine. The Kremlin is delaying peace talks to continue the offensive and gain concessions.
Western investments in the development and production of interceptor drones in Ukraine are critically important for countering Russian strike attacks. Russia has significantly increased the number of strike drones, launching up to 728 units per night, and could reach 2,000 by November 2025.
The Institute for the Study of War concluded that Russia is not interested in good-faith negotiations with Ukraine, focusing on continuing the war. Statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirm that Russia seeks to achieve its "unchanging" goals, including the "denazification" and "demilitarization" of Ukraine.
The Kremlin continues to tighten internet censorship, preparing to ban WhatsApp. The replacement will be the Kremlin-controlled MAX platform, despite WhatsApp's popularity among 84 million users.
The occupation administration of Crimea earned over 28 million dollars in the first half of 2025 from the sale of "nationalized" Ukrainian property. This accounts for almost half of the profit received over the previous two years of the full-scale invasion.
Russia uses traditional narratives and nuclear threats to distance the US from Ukraine and NATO. The Kremlin has updated its nuclear doctrine to include a clause on aggression by a non-nuclear state supported by a nuclear one.
The Russian army continues attempts to break through the defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in several directions, but Ukrainian defenders are holding back the enemy. According to ISW, the Ukrainian Armed Forces advanced in Sumy Oblast, while the Russians advanced in the Kupyansk and Toretsk directions.
Russian occupation authorities are intensifying pressure on residents of occupied territories, demanding re-registration of SIM cards by November 1 and installing "Russian world" satellite dishes. The Russification of schools through "patriotic" curricula is also ongoing.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's statement about not wanting Russia to be defeated in Ukraine contradicts Beijing's public statements about neutrality. ISW analysts believe this indicates an interconnected future for Beijing and Moscow.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War predict that Russia will not be able to capture the entire Donetsk region by the end of 2025. This confirms the statement by the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, about the unrealistic nature of such Kremlin plans.
The Kremlin is using diplomatic ties with the US to divert attention from the war in Ukraine, emphasizing the restoration of US-Russian relations. The Russian Foreign Ministry reported on discussions of bilateral issues unrelated to the war between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced the swift agreement of a new round of negotiations with the USA. The dialogue on prisoner exchange continues, specialized structures are interacting, there is only a technical pause.
Russian occupiers regrouped a month ago, making the Novopavlivka direction a priority, and have some success there. They use the tactic of advancing in small groups, despite significant losses, accumulating in destroyed villages.
Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Borova area, while Russian invaders advanced in the Novopavlivka area. The Russian army also captured Piddubne in Donetsk Oblast and Lobkove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
The head of the "LPR" Leonid Pasichnyk announced the full occupation of Luhansk region, but the Ukrainian side refutes this. Fighting continues near Bilohorivka, Hrekivka, Nadiia, and Novoiehorivka, as well as in Serebryansky forest.
ISW analysts indicate that the Russian Federation has larger territorial ambitions in Ukraine than Crimea and the four annexed regions. Putin and his inner circle use narratives about "Donbas", "Novorossiya" and "one people" to justify their encroachments.
ISW analysts called the combined Russian strike on Ukraine on the night of June 29 the largest since February 2022. The invaders launched 537 aerial assault weapons, targeting civilian, railway, and industrial infrastructure.
