Russian president Vladimir Putin has issued a presidential decree to allow the Russian state to take control of private critical infrastructure if they are not protected from Ukrainian drone attacks.Putin’s order covers online retail warehouses that have increasingly been targeted by Kyiv, as well as energy, industrial and transport facilities deemed critical to the stability of the nation.It comes as Ukraine has expanded its aerial assault on Russian infrastructure, repeatedly targeting logistics centres belonging to shopping websites Wildberries and now Ozon. Ukraine has accused these facilities of providing support to Russia’s armed forces.Earlier, Britain and France pledged to provide Ukraine with access to classified technology and faster deliveries of air defence missiles during a meeting of allies to mark Kyiv's Independence Day celebrations.Andy Burnham offered Ukraine the UK’s unwavering support “despite Russia’s outrageous threats to my country”.“This is the moment to keep up the pressure on Russia. The moment to squeeze their ability to fund this illegal war," Burnham said, calling ⁠for further economic sanctions.Putin adviser warns UK factories face attacks from ‘unknown sources’ for helping UkraineBritish factories manufacturing drones for Ukraine could face targeting by "unknown sources", a Kremlin adviser has warned, after the UK agreed to share long-range missile blueprints with the nation.Andrei Fedorov, a former deputy foreign minister for Russia, stated he could not "100% exclude" the possibility of "semi-military" operations directed at Britain, speaking as Andy Burnham undertook a trip to Kyiv.The visit marked the prime minister’s inaugural overseas journey since taking office. While in the capital, the UK reaffirmed its "unwavering" commitment to Ukraine, which in turn provided what officials described as a "goldmine" of combat data to enhance British security.In discussions with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Burnham assured there would be "no change in the UK’s steadfast support" for the country.Arpan Rai25 August 2026 07:07Arpan Rai25 August 2026 06:45Ukraine eyes local production of Anglo-French missileEuropean leaders brought pledges of further military and financial support as they met Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv yesterday for Ukraine’s Independence Day celebrations.PM Andy Burnham announced his government has agreed to allow defence company MBDA to release classified information relating to British components used in the SCALP long-range missile.That paves the way for France and Ukraine to advance plans for the weapon's production in Ukraine.SCALP is the French version of the UK’s Storm Shadow missile, with both systems incorporating shared technology.“Ukraine has been Europe’s protector, not a drain on our security, but the front line of keeping Europe safe,” Burnham said, adding that Kyiv and its partners “must keep up the pressure on Moscow.”Ukraine has leaned heavily on Nato countries for help fighting Russia’s bigger army, although relations with the United States have been cooler under president Donald Trump.Russia, meanwhile, is getting help from North Korea and China.Andy Burnham arrives to meet Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of their bilateral meeting at Horodetskyi House in Kyiv (Reuters)Arpan Rai25 August 2026 06:32First British national killed fighting for Putin in Ukraine ‘dies in drone attack’According to LBC, the former fisherman travelled to Moscow in April where he met other British pro-Russian fighters Aiden Minnis and Ben Stimson who are thought to have recruited him online.He was killed in a “storm operation” on 10 June, according to a Russia-linked social media account seen by LBC.Townsend was described as a “warrior in a holy war” who had “sacrificed his life for the cause” by the account.Arpan Rai25 August 2026 06:12Ukraine targets Ozon in widening attacks on Russian online retailersUkraine has targeted four logistics hubs owned by Russia's second-largest online retailer Ozon, widening a campaign of drone strikes on Russian e-commerce companies intended to inflict more damage on the war-battered economy.Ozon's shares tumbled after it reported the strikes in southern Russia, which brought to six the number of its facilities targeted in the last three days.Kyiv had until last week focused on Ozon's rival, Wildberries, in attacks on the e-commerce sector — one of the fastest-growing parts of the Russian economy.Ozon said in a statement that a logistics hub in Makhachkala in Dagestan was on fire and had halted operations after a drone attack, adding: “According to preliminary information, several people were injured.”A fire also broke out at an ​Ozon ⁠logistics hub in the town of Enem on the outskirts of the city of Krasnodar, and workers were evacuated from warehouses in Adygeysk, in the Adygeya region, and in Nevinnomyssk in the Stavropol region although neither facility was damaged, it said.Arpan Rai25 August 2026 05:56North Korea deploys drone unit among 8,500 troops fighting Ukraine war, says KyivNorth Korea deploys drone unit among 8,500 troops fighting Ukraine war, says KyivNorth Korea has sent at least 8,500 troops to Russia, including a drone attack unit to survey and hit targets inside Ukraine, according to Ukrainian intelligence.The deputy head of Ukraine’s defence intelligence, Major General Vadym Skibitskiy, said that the North Korean forces are mostly spread in Russia’s Kursk region and around a thousand of them are engineers and deminers.At least 400 more are believed to be drone operators, marking the first time North Korea has deployed an official drone warfare unit in the Ukraine war on behalf of Russia, the official said. Many of them have received direct or indirect experience from previous North Korean deployments.Mr Skibitskiy said Russian president Vladimir Putin could ask his North Korean ally Kim Jong Un to deploy another 50,000 forces if they meet in September as part of Moscow and Pyongyang’s continuing military cooperation.Arpan Rai25 August 2026 05:36Putin allows Russia to take control of infrastructure deemed vulnerable to drone attacksRussian president Vladimir Putin has handed the Russian state the power to take control of critically important infrastructure if it is deemed to ⁠be poorly protected from Ukrainian drone attacks and other threats.The special powers, set out in a presidential decree, will allow the state to take over temporary administration of such facilities at a time when Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks on oil refineries and retail warehouses.The state will be able to take control of physical and financial assets and formal ⁠ownership rights if entities responsible for such facilities are judged ​to ⁠have failed in their duty to ‌protect them and are too slow to repair them after any attack, according to the decree.It applies to fuel, energy, industrial, communications, transport and logistics facilities and other objects regarded as critically-important for ensuring the security and economic stability of the state and the population.First deputy prime minister Denis Manturov said the ⁠measure should not be viewed as a precursor to nationalisation and would not be used on a broad scale.Arpan Rai25 August 2026 05:15Russia's Afipsky oil refinery afire after drone attackThe Afipsky oil refinery in Russia's southern Krasnodar region was on fire following a drone attack, regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev said this morning.He ‌added that two ⁠people were killed and two others were injured due to ‌falling drone ​debris ‌in ⁠the area.Arpan Rai25 August 2026 04:40Britain and France pledge stronger support on Ukraine's Independence DayLeaders of Britain and France pledged to provide Ukraine with stronger military support — including access to classified technology and faster deliveries of air defence missiles — at a meeting of allies to mark Kyiv's Independence Day celebrations.PM Andy Burnham, in Kyiv on his first foreign visit since taking office last month, urged the gathering of the "Coalition of the Willing" to "do everything we can" to bolster Ukraine's defences against Russian air strikes.“This is the moment to keep up the pressure on Russia. The moment to squeeze their ability to fund this illegal war,” Burnham said, calling for further economic sanctions.Britain announced on ⁠Monday it would allow Kyiv access to classified technology to start its own production of Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles, capable of carrying out strikes deep within Russia. France has already given ​its assent to license ⁠the technology for the European missile.Andy Burnham reacts as he is shown the damage of the buildings and site of a strike at Lukanivska market (Getty)French president Emmanuel Macron, co-chairing the coalition meeting via video link, said that a string of deadly attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks had shown that allies needed to step up the deliveries of interceptors and France would do its part.“I think it's very important that all of us accelerate in terms of delivery,” Macron told the meeting, urging countries not to back down in the face of Russian intimidation.“The bottom line is, for me, very clear: keep calm and carry on.”Zelensky told the meeting that Ukraine's war effort was complicated by a $27bn defence funding gap this year and appealed for additional financial support.He suggested that Russia's frozen overseas assets could be used to finance the deficit.Arpan Rai25 August 2026 04:10PM Burnham will head to US to lobby Trump on Ukraine needs next month – reportPrime minister Andy Burnham is planning to head to the US next month to speak with US president Donald Trump about Ukraine's needs, reported Bloomberg.“I am looking forward to going to New York in September,” the PM said, referring to the UN General Assembly gathering.While the details are not “fully confirmed”, Burnham said it is “likely” he will go.“Leaving today, I'm quite clear what I need to do in the next few weeks," he said as he wrapped up his first official visit to Ukraine, where he vowed to use pressure on Russia to end the war.The White House is yet to issue a comment on a likely meeting between Trump and Burnham.Arpan Rai25 August 2026 03:50