Ukraine

Russian oil deliveries to Hungary off again after third attack on Druzhba pipeline as Ukraine ups attacks on Russian oil assets

Ben Aris in Berlin August 24, 2025

Russian crude deliveries to Slovakia and Hungary were suspended on August 21 after a third attack on the Druzhba pipeline system in less than two weeks, officials confirmed. Flows are expected to remain offline for at least five days.

China willing to supply Ukraine peacekeepers if there is a UN mandate

Ben Aris in Berlin August 24, 2025

China has indicated its readiness to send troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping mission, but only if such a deployment is authorised by the United Nations, Welt am Sonntag reported on August 24, citing European Union diplomats.

Ukraine’s defence industry could triple its capacity, if Europe provides the contracts

bne IntelliNews August 24, 2025

Ukraine’s defence factories could triple their current output tomorrow. The technology is ready, the workers are trained, the production lines are in place. What is missing is money.

Mapping global drought risk - Statista

Anna Fleck for Statista August 24, 2025

By 2050, more than 1.6bn people, including almost 20% of the African population, will be exposed to severe and extreme droughts, if a pessimistic scenario plays out, according to a report by INFORM Climate Change.

Russia’s car industry stalls under weight of Chinese dominance and structural decline

bne IntelliNews August 24, 2025

The Russian automotive sector is showing signs of systemic failure. After a brief post-crisis rebound in 2023 (+69%) and 2024 (+48%), the market has sharply reversed course in 2025, revealing deep-rooted vulnerabilities that go beyond a slowdown.

Forest carbon credits are facing a reckoning over albedo risks

bne IntelliNews August 24, 2025

Planting trees should reduce the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere right? Well, its not so easy as that. Trees also provide shade and prevent sunlight from reaching the ground that could reflect it back into space, cooling the plant.

Russia builds major signals intelligence hub near Nato borders in Kaliningrad

Ben Aris in Berlin August 24, 2025

Russia is constructing a large-scale signals intelligence facility near Chernyakhovsk, in the Kaliningrad exclave, less than 100 kilometres from the borders of Poland and Lithuania, United24 Media reported on August 24.

Are Ukraine's Flamingo cruise missiles really made in Ukraine?

Ben Aris in Berlin August 22, 2025

Secret factory A camera crew from Associated Press was granted access to the Fire Point factory at an undisclosed location inside Ukraine to witness the production of Ukraine’s new Flamingo cruise missile.

Russia deliberately destroys a US factory based in Ukraine

Ben Aris in Berlin August 22, 2025

Russia launched a record number of drones and missiles on August 21 and specifically targeted US company Flex's factory in Ukraine.

Ukraine hits Russia’s Druzhba oil pipeline again with drones

bne IntelliNews August 22, 2025

Ukraine has carried out another strike on the Druzhba oil pipeline, hitting the Unecha oil pumping station in the latest of a series of incidents targeting the Soviet-era pipeline.

Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries drive up petrol prices, shortages looming

Ben Aris in Berlin August 21, 2025

Russian wholesale gasoline prices are soaring to record levels following a series of Ukrainian drone strikes on critical refinery infrastructure. Analysts warn that Russia is facing fuel shortages in the coming weeks, Meduza reported on August 21.

US will play minimum role in Ukraine’s security guarantees – Politico

Ben Aris in Berlin August 21, 2025

The Pentagon’s top policy official Elbridge Colby says the US will play a minimal role in any Ukraine security guarantees, Politico reported on August 21.

Western reliance on peacekeepers and arms sales in lieu of real security guarantees doom Russo-Ukraine peace talks to failure

Ben Aris in Berlin August 20, 2025

The coalition of the willing plan to send “reassurance forces” to Ukraine and buy Kyiv $100bn worth of new US weapons in lieu of giving Kyiv real collective security guarantees will doom imminent Russo-Ukraine peace negotiations to failure.

Peace turns on possible new Western security deals for Ukraine

bne IntelliNews August 19, 2025

Mixed results for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy following the historic meeting with US President Donald Trump and seven European leaders on August 18 in the White House.

Ukraine goes into production of Flamingo ICBM

Ben Aris in Berlin August 19, 2025

Flamingo is part of Ukraine's broader push to develop independent strike capabilities, as it has been sorely lacking in missiles that can strike targets deep in Russia’s hinterland.

High stake talks in Washington between Trump, Zelenskiy and EU leaders

Ben Aris in Peterborough August 18, 2025

Following the underwhelming Alaska summit, US president Donald Trump has invited five European leaders, NATO, and the EU to the Oval Office as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to close a deal that could end the war on August 18.

Putin demanded complete control of Donbas from Trump in Alaska talks

Ben Aris in Peterborough August 16, 2025

President Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine give up complete control of the Donbas in talks with Trump, but said he was prepared to freeze the conflict in the remaining two regions of Kherson and Zapariszhzhia the Financial Times reported.

Kyivstar becomes first Ukrainian company to list on Nasdaq after $178mn SPAC merger

bne IntelliNews August 16, 2025

Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest telecoms operator, has become the first Ukrainian company to trade on Nasdaq after completing a merger with Cohen Circle Acquisition Corp. I, a special purpose acquisition company.

No deal in Alaska: Putin looks strong, Trump looks weak

Ben Aris in Berlin August 16, 2025

No deal to end the war in Ukraine was reached at the historic meeting between US president Donald Trump and president Vladimir Putin at a three-hour summit in Alaska on August 15 that ended up making the Russian leader look stronger than ever.

US to offer Russia access to Alaskan rare earth minerals at Alaska summit - Daily Telegraph

bne IntelliNews August 15, 2025

The United States is preparing to propose granting Russia access to rare earth minerals in Alaska during the forthcoming summit between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin, The Daily Telegraph reported on August 13.

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