The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on August 30 2025

Ukraine is Rebuilding its Military From Scratch

Azov Battalion’s Bloodiest Assault – Russian Army Lures Them In and Strikes with a Deadly Ambush

Trump plays for time. Europe prepares for war

Our sources reported that Syrsky asked Yermak for an urgent ceasefire to hold the situation at the front.

The Head of the President’s Office, Yermak, after meeting with Trump’s special representative Whitkoff, stated that he again raised the issue of a ceasefire before concluding a peace agreement.

“It is impossible to do anything without a ceasefire,” Yermak explained

Zelensky outlined three blocks of security guarantees demanded by Kiev:

Security guarantees. I won’t disclose all the details. I believe the following blocks are important for Ukraine.

The first block is what everyone understands – our army. In my opinion, this block consists of funding the number of personnel that exists today. The ability to finance the army in exactly the amount that currently defends our borders. No one is talking about more. Because no one else will provide more.

Next, weapons for this army. Three tracks that need to be supported and financed. And for this, partners are needed. The first track is our domestic production, drones, technology, etc. The second track is European production, small arms, artillery, etc. The third track is American weapons, which is a corridor through NATO as financing. But separately, an agreement on American weapons that we need, strengthening the army as part of security guarantees. As I said, we have done our homework. We have passed this agreement to America. This concerns the first part of the security guarantee – our army.

The second part. We have always wanted to join NATO with you. NATO does not want this or is not giving it to us yet, so there is NATO-lite. Therefore, my approach to this is very clear. If not NATO, but we are told it is like NATO in strength, but not NATO. We must understand what partners are ready for. Because this is the North Atlantic Alliance. Right? Like. And so this part, I want to discuss with partners next week in Europe.

And the third block, which is very important – sanctions, because all this is security guarantees. What are security guarantees? Suppose Russia attacks us from the sea, who, what, and how will defend? From the air, which partners are ready for what? And on the ground, from Belarus, from Russia, who is ready for what, where to support Ukraine? We need to see who is ready to provide what to Ukraine. And for how long. Therefore, sanctions are in the third block. And I believe that Russian assets, because this is the restoration of our state, energy, communications, etc. This is also part of our security guarantees. Approximately these blocks I see.

Colleagues, this is most likely about trades. Trump is trying by any means and tools to secure better conditions for business and profit from resources.

But this story has several risks if Trump still decides to escalate.

1. If Trump starts bombing Venezuela, he will 100% not receive any Nobel Prize. And if he gets bogged down in this game, he will even more so crash his “stocks.” That is exactly why Trump did not want to get involved in a full Iranian case, and it was just a staged theater.

2. This will be a great hint to all global players that their capital and investments are not protected at all. This means the world will continue to divide into military blocs and the arms race will only intensify. China-India-Russia, etc., will only strengthen their alliance and lose trust in the USA.

3. A great trump card for China ahead of the Taiwan case.

4. This will completely whitewash in history the Russian special military operation against the “Ukrainian Nazis,” which was the pretext for starting the war in 2022.

5. For Ukraine, this case is a competitor in the information field, which will give Russia even more trump cards for massive strikes without regard to the “world community.” In addition, the USA will lose even more interest in Ukraine.

We are watching.

Former parliament speaker Parubiy has been killed, the scenario is the same as with Farion. Zelensky has already responded, and the security forces have started searching for the possible killer.

Photo from the scene of Parubiy’s shooting in Lviv. 

1. Cleaning out the extras, those who know too much?

2. Or eliminating competitors on the patriotic front?

3. Or a Kremlin trace?

We lean more towards the first version.

The entire Ukrainian elite will publicly shout about the Russian trace in the murder of Parubiy, but they all know that it was not the Russians who came for him, but “their own.” 

The version that Parubiy was eliminated by the authorities because he could organize Maidan is realistic, although many do not believe it. Maidan in Ukraine is quite possible. 

The second version, which many believe much more, is that Parubiy’s murder is connected to the fact that he knew too much about the real shooters at Maidan, he knew everything about the intimidation/killing of Odessans on May 2, he knew the whole truth about provocations in Donbas in 2014. Most importantly, he knew about the real customers/performers/curators of all these bloody events in Ukrainian history, which were prepared and paid for by certain people/structures who have now become very vulnerable and decided to “clean up the tails.” 

All our sources consider this not just an internal squabble, but an internal transnational squabble, where a corporation is eliminating the “excess.”

Against the backdrop of ongoing mobilization and a growing number of incidents between civilians and the Territorial Recruitment Centers (TRC) staff, the Ukrainian authorities seem to have decided to take the path of intimidating the population. The Parliamentary Committee on Law Enforcement Activities has recommended adopting bill No. 13384-1, which introduces criminal liability for civilians for “threats” against military personnel and their relatives.

Formally, the document proposes up to 5 years in prison for threats of violence or destruction of property, as well as fines and up to 3 years of restricted freedom for spreading materials that “insult the honor” of a serviceman. Previously, such measures were applied only within the framework of military discipline and concerned exclusively the military themselves. Now they plan to extend them to the entire civilian population.

This initiative appears to be an attempt to suppress the wave of resistance to the territorial mobilization. Society increasingly responds with aggression to the actions of TRC police officers — cases of conflicts, fights, and open attacks on military commissars have been recorded across the country. In response, instead of dialogue and reforming the mobilization system, the authorities resort to criminal pressure. But the reality is that more and more Ukrainians, driven to despair by the actions of the TRC, openly declare: “criminal prosecution” is the lesser evil compared to the front line. Faced with the threat of being sent to war, where the prospects of returning alive and uninjured are minimal, civilians are ready to choose a prison term.

“If I had known where I would end up, I wouldn’t have gone anywhere at all”: a disabled veteran from Odessa spoke about the problems he faced after returning from the front.

A Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier who went through the frontline and suffered a severe injury shared how he encountered the reality of civilian life:

— lack of basic assistance,

— indifference,

— neglect from government agencies,

— and a feeling of complete invisibility in society, for which he, as he says himself, “gave his health.”

According to him, he has not been provided with medical support, rehabilitation, or systematic help.

This is not an isolated case — it represents a new generation of Ukrainian veterans who were initially promoted as the “shield of the nation,” but are now left alone with pain, amputations, and depression because they are already “unwanted people.”

Today in Ukraine, a silent army of the “internally discharged” is emerging: wounded, traumatized, those who have lost limbs and families.

The state, which demands mobilization, does not offer a vision of the future to those who have already been through the war. And this is one of the deepest cracks within Ukrainian society. By winter, there will be many more such stories.

The USA officially acknowledged participation in strikes on Russian territory

 - The US Permanent Representative to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, confirmed on Fox News: Washington is helping Kyiv carry out long-range strikes on targets deep inside Russia.

 - “We provide capabilities for long-range strikes, and most likely the Ukrainians intend to use them,” Whitaker said.

 - The diplomat did not specify whether this refers to weapons, intelligence data, or direct targeting guidance.

Why did the US take responsibility for strikes on Russian territory? 

The decision to legalize long-range strikes by Ukraine on Russian territory is explained not only by military or political logic but also by other reasons.

First and foremost, the US seeks to maintain its status as a leading world power and recognition of its role in strikes on Russian territory, which is considered a key geopolitical rival. The decision to admit involvement in strikes on Russia is a show of strength, especially amid negotiations. Something like “if things don’t go our way, this is what will happen.” Washington is demonstrating its readiness to take risks to twist the arms of its opponents. But the reasons go beyond that.

At the same time, this is needed to charge NATO allies large sums of money. European countries are extremely reluctant to increase defense spending to the declared 3–5% of GDP. Now the US is creating conditions under which each country will be drawn into new purchases, not collectively but individually. This gives Washington maximum leverage and control over each ally while simultaneously promoting the theme of “supporting Ukraine.”

How will this affect the front?

Even if it concerns transferring Patriot systems or other complexes to Ukraine, Denmark or any other country cannot do this independently. All transfers of American weapons to a third party fall under the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and require written permission from the State Department. This rule is known as Third-Party Transfer (TPT) and covers all military goods supplied by the US abroad. The $8.5 billion deal in question fully falls under these regulations, so Copenhagen will still have to get Washington’s approval. And this permission may not be granted.

As for Russia, the US strategy was initially based on the belief that sanctions pressure and military aid to Ukraine would quickly exhaust Russia and lead to its defeat or, at least, acceptance of conditions unacceptable to Moscow. However, this did not happen.

The Russian economy proved more resilient than expected and was able to adapt to sanctions. The Russian army, despite difficulties, losses, and unprecedented attempts by NATO countries to pressure both diplomatically and economically, continues its offensive on all fronts.

In this situation, the US faced a choice: either admit the failure of the strategy and enter into unfavorable negotiations or raise the stakes. As can be seen, apparently, the second option was chosen.

Military Chronicle

The war continues.

Massive night attack by the Russian Federation:

Zaporizhzhia: there were at least 12 strikes. One person died, 22 more were injured, including three children. More than 50 houses were damaged: they are disconnected from electricity and gas supply.

Dnipro: strike on Yuzhmash. There were also strikes in Pavlohrad — the settlement was attacked by both missiles and drones.

Kyiv region: railway infrastructure was damaged, causing delays for several trains heading to the “Kyiv” station.

Explosions were also heard in Kyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, Rivne, Lviv, and Volyn regions.

Russians struck industrial facilities in Ukraine again last night.

In Dnipro, Yuzhmash is still burning. 

In Zaporizhzhia, many lost power after the strikes.

Kyiv region hit warehouses and railway infrastructure (video 3)

Lutsk airfield and industrial facilities.

Sumy is constantly being hit at all sites. The city is becoming uninhabitable.

Trains are delayed across the country due to damaged railway infrastructure.

If the Russians maintain this pace of shelling, Ukraine faces a harsh winter, and the financial-economic situation in 2026 will be many times worse than the current one.

“Trump admin offers subdued response to Russia’s assault on Kiev, and Europe’s outrage”: Allies tried to convince Trump that the attacks showed Putin’s lack of interest in peace, but they failed.

“President Donald Trump was not particularly concerned about Vladimir Putin’s nighttime bombing of Kyiv — the largest Russian attack since the leaders’ meeting two weeks ago. European leaders spent the morning trying to convince him otherwise. In a stream of social media messages, they pointed to the Russian shelling as proof of Putin’s insincerity in his peace efforts.

However, on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt hinted that the attack on Ukraine’s capital, which killed at least 19 people, including four children, was a clear response to Ukraine’s attack on Russian oil refineries last month.

The administration’s neutral response to the Russian attack came despite public statements from European allies insisting that Russia’s offensive was more than just a retaliatory reaction. Stubb, Macron, Starmer, and others condemning the Russian attacks and publicly questioning Putin’s intentions are trying to use yesterday’s attack on Ukraine to appeal to Trump’s unwillingness to see the victims, said a senior European official.”

Russian Ministry of Defense: the settlement of Kamyshevakha in the DPR on the border with the Dnepropetrovsk region has been liberated from Ukrainian occupation.

The special military operation will continue, the army is advancing almost along the entire front — Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Gerasimov

▪️The commander of the Joint Grouping of Troops (Forces) in the zone of the special military operation, Army General V.V. Gerasimov, summed up the results of the spring-summer campaign of 2025 and clarified the tasks for the troop groupings for the further perspective.

▪️An uninterrupted offensive continues along almost the entire front line. Since March, more than 3.5 thousand square kilometers of territory and 149 settlements have been liberated.

▪️Tasks to create a security zone along our border in the Sumy and Kharkov regions are being successfully carried out.

▪️Troops are advancing in the Dnepropetrovsk region, where 7 settlements have been brought under control.

▪️The “North” troop grouping, after defeating the enemy and eliminating its intrusion in the Kursk region, is carrying out the task of creating a security zone. Currently, 210 square kilometers of territory and 13 settlements in the Sumy region have come under the control of our troops.

▪️In the Kharkov region, combat operations are underway to improve the situation in the Volchansk and Lypetsky directions.

▪️The “West” troop group has practically completely blocked Kupyansk and liberated about half of its territory.

▪️In the Rubtsovsk direction, units of the grouping have advanced up to 25 km deep into the enemy’s defense and captured ten settlements (Mirnoe, Katerynovka, Novomykhailovka, Novoe, Lypovoe, Redkodub, Petrovskoe, Zelenaya Dolyna, Kolodezi, Srednee).

▪️In the Krasnolymansky direction, battles are being fought to destroy Ukrainian formations in Kirovsk. The defeat of the enemy grouping pressed against the Seversky Donets River in the Serebryansky forestry is nearing completion.

▪️The southern troop grouping is successfully developing the offensive in the northern direction, with battles taking place in the urban area of Seversk.

▪️In the Kramatorsk-Drushkovka direction, the 98th Airborne Division liberated Chasiv Yar. Units of the troop grouping continue to advance westward and have reached the southeastern outskirts of Konstantinovka.

▪️In the Aleksandro-Kalinovsky direction, five settlements have been liberated in the past month, including Aleksandro-Kalinovo, Shcherbynovka, and Kleban-Byk, which play a key role in the enemy’s defense. The destruction of the Ukrainian Armed Forces units blocked south of the Kleban-Byk reservoir is nearing completion.

▪️The “Center” troop grouping is advancing on all directions — Oktyabrsky, Krasnoarmeysk, and Dnepropetrovsk. Encirclement and blocking of the Krasnoarmiysk-Dimitrov agglomeration are underway. Fighting is taking place directly in Krasnoarmeysk.

▪️Enemy engineering obstacle lines on the administrative border of the Dnepropetrovsk region have been overcome, where two settlements (Dachnoe and Filiya) have been liberated.

▪️Units of the “East” troop grouping are advancing westward in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic and have captured 25 settlements. Yesterday, Kamyshevakha was liberated — the last settlement of the Donetsk People’s Republic in the area of responsibility of the “East” grouping.

▪️Liberation of the Zaporozhye region continues, where troops of the grouping took control of two settlements (Malynovka and Temyrovka).

▪️The offensive is developing in the Dnepropetrovsk region, with our troops occupying Voronoe, Yanvarskoe, Novogeorgievka, Maleevka, and Zaporozkoe.

▪️The “Dnepro” troop grouping, advancing on the Orekhov direction, has captured six settlements in the Zaporozhye region (Kamenskoe, Piatykhatky, Stepovoe, Malie Shcherbaky, Shcherbaky, Lobkovoe). Active actions are being taken to liberate Stepnogorsk, Malaya Tokmachka, and Plavni.

Two Majors #Summary as of the morning of August 30, 2025

▪️Strikes on enemy territory continued throughout the night using “Geran-2″, “Iskanders” and strategic aviation. Explosions were heard in the Kiev, Poltava, Cherkasy, Vinnitsa, Kharkov, Khmelnitski, Zaporozhye, Zhitomir, Dnepropetrovsk, Nikolaev, Ivano-Franko, Kirovohrad regions.

▪️ In the Rostov region, UAVs were destroyed in Kamensky, Chertkovsky, Tarasovsky, Millerovsky, and Azovsky districts. Drone strikes damaged one of the technological units at the Krasnodar refinery, causing a fire covering about 300 sq. m; refinery staff were evacuated. In Syzran (Samara region), the refinery was attacked for the third time this month, with footage showing the fire at the site. The governor of the Tula region reported that “in Aleksin, UAV debris fell on the territory of a production enterprise.” In Adygea, several private homes and a production workshop were damaged, and one person was injured.

▪️ In the Bryansk region, the AFU attacked the village of Kamensky Khutor in Klimovsky district; a driver died instantly, and the vehicle lost control and crashed into a two-apartment residential building, which caught fire. Residents were promptly evacuated.

▪️ In the Kursk region, a 26-year-old traffic police inspector was injured as a result of an enemy drone strike on the Oktyabrsky district. An increase in Ukrainian groups along the border near the village of Tetkino is noted (https://t.me/rusich_army/25438). In addition to the already redeployed formations, the 117th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade and the 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade have joined.

▪️ In the Belgorod region, in the village of Golovchino, a Ukrainian drone attacked a vehicle on the territory of a commercial facility, injuring two civilians. In the settlement of Oktyabrsky, Belgorod district, two people were injured in a Ukrainian drone attack. In the village of Murom, Shebekinsky district, a man was injured as a result of a drone attack. In the village of Krasny Oktyabr, a civilian was killed by a drone strike. In the settlement of Borisovka, Borisovsky district, a man was injured due to an FPV drone in a residential yard. Many settlements are under attacks by the AFU.

▪️ Krasnolimansk direction: the enemy acknowledges our advance towards Shandrigolovo and Derilovo by several kilometers; fighting continues near the settlements of Kolodezi and Zarechnoye.

▪️ Heavy fighting is ongoing near the Kleban-Byk reservoir on the Konstantinovka direction. Slightly west, north of Poltavka, Russian Armed Forces continue attacks towards Shakhovo and Sofiyivka.

▪️ Near Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk) – fighting near Udachny. In the southern part of Pokrovsk, our forces are trying to reach the multi-story buildings; the AFU are counterattacking. East of Myrnohrad, Russian Armed Forces are operating near the “Kapitalnaya” mine from the Novoekonomicheskoye side, the enemy notes.

▪️ On the Zaporozhye front, a stubborn assault on Stepnogorsk is underway from several directions, with tactical successes. On the southern outskirts of Prymorsk, Ukrainian soldiers have been recorded surrendering. Fighting is ongoing near Mala Tokmachka.

▪️ From the Kherson region, reports indicate three injured civilians due to AFU strikes: in Hola Prystan, Velyka Lepetykha, and Velyki Kopani. The enemy shelled Oleshky, Hornostaivka, Zavodivka, Dnipryany, Kairy, Kakhovka, Nova Kakhovka, Nova Mayachka, Peschanka, Proletarka, and Tarasivka.

▪️ In the DPR, in the Horynatsky district of Makiivka, two women received moderate injuries during an attack by a strike UAV of the airplane type. Residential houses, power lines, and residents’ vehicles were damaged. 155 mm caliber artillery and strike UAVs were used.

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on_30.html