Summary of Key Events on Day 1,281 of the Russo-Ukrainian War
Published On 28 Aug 2025
Status Update as of Thursday, August 28:
Combat Update
- Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, suffered a significant night-time assault by Russian forces, with at least one fatality, four injuries, and structural damage across multiple districts, including a childcare facility.
- Russian military personnel have reportedly occupied villages in the eastern Dniepropetrovsk region, an important industrial area adjacent to the Donetsk region, according to The Associated Press.
- Series of Strikes Across Ukraine on Wednesday resulted in three deaths and more than 100,000 households without power, Kyiv officials state.
- Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy accused Russia of launching attacks against energy and gas transport infrastructures, labeling it a “deliberate act to destroy Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure before the heating season”.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted more than 100,000 homes cut off from electrical supply in the Poltava, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions following Russian strikes.
- In Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, a farm was damaged by heavy shelling, killing two employees, and an 81-year-old woman was killed during an overnight attack on the regional capital, according to local officials.
- Ukraine is exploring ways to share battlefield intelligence with its allies, according to Mykhailo Fedorov, head of Ukraine’s digital transformation ministry.
- Fedorov also expressed confidence in finding a solution to continue Poland’s funding for 30,000 Starlink internet systems for Ukraine, after Poland’s potential withdrawal of support due to a presidential veto.
Peace Negotiations
- President Zelenskyy expressed concerns over “arrogant and negative signals” from Moscow regarding peace talks, advocating for increased pressure to prompt real action towards peace.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed calls for swift negotiations, referencing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s multiple priorities, including a significant trip to China and preparation for an economic forum in Vladivostok.
- Peskov also opposed the concept of European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, citing it as a “root cause” of the conflict due to NATO’s military expansion towards Ukraine.
Politics and Diplomacy
- Ukraine criticized Russia’s plan to leave the Council of Europe’s torture prevention treaty, viewing it as a silent admission of guilt regarding war crimes and torture allegations.
- President Zelenskyy appointed Olha Stefanishyna, a former top cabinet minister, as Ukraine’s next ambassador to the United States, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Ukraine relations and diplomatic priorities.
- Zelenskyy’s chief of staffAndriy Yermak was in Riyadh, along with security council chief Rustem Umerov, anticipating discussions with U.S. administration officials in New York later in the week.
Regional Security Developments
- Germany is pushing for increased voluntary military service amid concerns about Russian aggression, with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praising the opening of Europe’s largest munitions plant by Rheinmetall as crucial for Western defenses and support for Ukraine.
- Romania has inked a deal with Rheinmetall to establish a munitions ignition powder factory, underscoring Eastern European countries’ efforts to strengthen their defense capabilities.
- Germany approved a record 12.8 billion euros ($14.9bn) in weapons exports last year, with the majority intended to support Ukraine.
- Leaders from Germany, France, and Poland visited Moldova to express their support for its pro-European government and to condemn Russian “lies” and “hybrid attacks”.
- While all NATO members are expected to meet the 2 percent GDP defense spending target in 2025, only three currently reach the new 3.5 percent goal set by NATO leaders.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurated Turkiye’s integrated air defense system, known as the “Steel Dome”, signifying a milestone for the nation’s defense industry.
Economic Update
- Russian economic growth in 2025 is forecast to slow to 1.5 percent, down from the initial 2.5 percent estimate, as high interest rates have dampened borrowing, according to Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov.
- Petrol exports from Russia will remain restricted until October 31 in an effort to curb prices following Ukrainian strikes on refineries and other oil infrastructures.
- Some regions in Russia have experienced fuel shortages after Ukrainian attacks on oil facilities, with consumers facing rationing or sales suspensions.
- Crude oil shipments from Russia to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline could resume on Thursday, albeit at lower volumes, after Ukraine’s latest attack on Russian energy infrastructure.
- U.S. tariffs of 50 percent were implemented on many Indian products, doubling existing duties in response to India’s purchase of Russian oil.
