Air defense downs 5 Russian drones over Kyiv

To prepare for Operation Spiderweb, Ukraine’s Security Service adopted tactics used in fighting transnational organized crime, studying how international drug cartels move contraband past customs and border controls, SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk said in an interview aired on Aug. 12.

Ukraine's Energy Ministry warned that any provocations or military activity in the area could trigger "unpredictable and catastrophic consequences for the entire continent."

"This is a listening exercise for President (Donald Trump)," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

The technology provides connectivity when traditional cellular networks are unavailable, particularly during power outages from Russian strikes on critical infrastructure.

The General Staff said more than 110,000 Russian troops are concentrated in the Pokrovsk area and are attempting to penetrate defenses by sending small infantry units between Ukrainian lines.

Russian forces advanced toward the Dobropillia–Kramatorsk highway in Donetsk Oblast, seizing positions in nearby settlements to support further offensive operations.

The strike targeted a logistics hub in the village of Kizil-Yul, roughly 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from Ukraine, igniting a fire at the site.

The proposal aims to address concerns over the country's declining student population and the growing risk of losing young talent abroad.