Ex-deputy head of Presidential Office Smyrnov charged with illicit enrichment

The visit comes amid what the Moldovan presidency described as Russia ramping up its "interference activities ahead of the high-stakes elections" scheduled for September.

Ukrainian forces downed 74 out of the 95 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones and decoys, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.

"It doesn't matter what they say. Everybody's posturing," U.S. President Donald Trump said during a Cabinet Meeting on Aug. 26.

"The Ukrainian Defense Forces have stopped the advance of the Russian invaders and continue to control the village of Zaporizke, despite all the efforts of... (Russian forces), who (are) trying to capture this settlement," the General Staff said in a statement on social media.

The number includes 920 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

State-owned and private processors, including energy giant Reliance Industries, plan to trim daily purchases to 1.4-1.6 million barrels from the current 1.8 million barrels, Bloomberg reported.

"I'm meeting with the Ukrainians this week. So I will be meeting with them this week in New York, and that's a big signal," U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said.

German fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Aug. 26, Deutsche Welle (DW) reported.

"I know that there are governments that are trying to seize the money. But I would like to warn that this is not so easy legally," Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said, warning that assets belonging to Russia's central bank hold legal immunity and the seizure likely lead to economic retaliation from other countries.

The new law will be extended to these three countries first, and then to the U.S. and Canada, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The Odesa Portside Plant (OPZ) will be put up for an open electronic auction with a starting price of 4.5 billion UAH (around $108 million), Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said.

Air defense support for Ukraine would involve U.S. aircraft, logistics, and ground-based radar facilitating a no-fly zone enforced by Europe, officials familiar with the discussions told the Financial Times.

"This week, there will be contacts with Turkey, with the Gulf countries, and with European countries that could serve as platforms for talks with Russia. On our part, everything will be as ready as possible to end the war. It is important that our partners confirm this," Zelensky said in his address.