Ukraine's 745 sq km Win: 'Precision, as Planned'

Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukrainian forces have recaptured 745 sq km (288 sq miles) of Russian-occupied land in a key sector this year, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said, outlining gains in the Oleksandrivskyi sector as Russia's battlefield advances slow across much of the front.

"This offensive operation of ours was carried out with precision – exactly as planned." Ukraine's president outlined gains broadly in line with assessments from the well-regarded Ukrainian open-source group DeepState. Russia's battlefield advances have slowed this year across much of the front, analysts say, though Russian forces still threaten cities in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.

From January to August of this year, our warriors of the airborne assault forces and other units carried out an effective offensive operation in the Oleksandrivskyi sector. Russian losses amounted to at least 9,550 people killed and more than 6,600 people wounded. Ukraine's "exchange fund" was also replenished, Zelenskyy said, referring to Russian prisoners of war who can be swapped for Ukrainians held by Russia.

The Oleksandrivskyi sector is a 60km (37-mile) stretch of the front taking in parts of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk oblasts where they meet. Zelenskyy said 26 settlements there had been brought back under Kyiv's control.

DeepState, which tracks both sides' positions on the front, said in its latest assessment that Ukrainian forces had restored control over 19 settlements along the frontline, and pushed back Russian troops in six more settlements. The US-based Institute for the Study of War said in an assessment that Russian online sources were likely using AI-enhanced video footage to support Moscow's claims of advances.

Major Attack on Novorossiysk Naval Base

A major Ukrainian attack on Russia's Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk hit warships at a naval base and forced two major grain terminals to halt operations on Wednesday, according to Russian and Ukrainian officials as well as grain industry sources. Zelenskyy said two frigates, a large landing ship, a corvette and other vessels were hit.

Describing the attack as having "strategic significance", Ukraine's SBU security service said Kyiv's forces hit the Novorossiysk naval base with drones and missiles. The Russian regional governor, Veniamin Kondratyev, said the attacks killed at least two people including an eight-year-old child.

Novorossiysk also hosts oil export infrastructure, including for the Caspian Pipeline Consortium owned partly by US oil companies Chevron and Exxon Mobil, and carries Kazakh oil exports to market. The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that after a request from JD Vance, the US vice-president, Ukraine agreed not to target CPC infrastructure and non-Russian vessels, as long as they were not under Ukrainian sanctions or carrying Russian oil or other cargo.

Zelenskyy's Plea for Patriot Interceptors

Ukraine needs 5% of US Patriot interceptors to get through the winter and 10% to destroy all the ballistic missiles fired by Russia, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told CNN. Ukraine this year "had two and a half times less interceptors than we had in 2025. Russia has two times more ballistic missiles per month than they had before. This year, I'm asking American partners to sell me 5% of missiles [that] they have in their stocks."

As of today he had "1%", Zelenskyy said. "From 1% to 5%, I have some months and millions [of] phone calls and anything else. I do some things which I can't even share. It doesn't mean that it's out of the law. But I can't speak about it."

Fuel Rationing in Russia

Russia's Orenburg region has introduced fuel rationing after a Ukrainian drone strike on the Orsk refinery this week in the Urals mountain province. "Dear residents of our region, I will be frank: a difficult fuel situation is developing in the region," said Yevgeny Solntsev, the regional governor. He announced restrictions on gasoline sales, including a ban on filling up containers, limits on sale volume, and sales on odd or even days based on licence plate numbers. Other Russian regions were already under similar restrictions.

Frontline Troops' Desperate Plea

A group of Ukrainian soldiers appealed to their military leadership for help in a video where they told of spending four months on the frontline without rotation and drinking urine during a 12-day stint when drone-dropped water supplies did not arrive. Ukraine's 121st Brigade command confirmed the social media video's authenticity and said the brigade "continues to take all necessary measures to properly supply the servicemen" in what it described as "extremely difficult" battlefield conditions.

Platoon commander Anatoliy Saichuk accused senior officers of lying to soldiers' families by assuring them the men were fully supplied. "Some of my servicemen were semi-conscious for several days due to lack of water and food," he added, saying he had eventually decided to abandon the positions when circumstances allowed.

North Korean Missiles and Russian Mobilization

Russian forces used ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea, Ukraine's president said, in an attack on the south-eastern city of Zaporizhzhia where the Metinvest steel company said seven civilian workers at its plant were killed and 21 injured. Three more civilians, including a 15-year-old boy, were killed by Russian drones and artillery in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, authorities said.

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence suggested Russia would use its "pseudo-election" in September as a pretext to declare a new mobilisation. "They are preparing for mobilisation in the autumn, immediately after the imitation of parliamentary elections," Zelenskyy said. Russia's supreme court on Monday barred the Yabloko party, the only officially registered party that opposes Moscow's war in Ukraine, from competing in the election.

Zelenskyy warned in recent days that North Korea is preparing to send up to 50,000 more troops to Russia.

What's Next

Key developments to watch:

• Fall fighting: Ukraine's continued offensive operations in Oleksandrivskyi sector
• Russian mobilization: Expected call-up after September elections
• North Korean troops: Up to 50,000 more expected in Russia
• Patriot interceptors: Ukraine's urgent request to US partners
• Winter campaign: Potential Russian offensive targeting energy infrastructure