Official: Ukraine’s air defense downs 70 Russian missiles

Did Ukraine's largest deep-strike campaign achieve its goal? In this episode of Ukraine This Week, Anna Belokur examines the results of Ukraine's 40-day campaign of long-range drone strikes deep inside Russia – whether it shifted the balance in the war, weakened Russia's economy, or changed the Kremlin's political calculations.

Overnight, Ukrainian forces downed 174 Shahed-type drones and five Banderol missiles, the Air Force reported on Aug. 9.

Sehrii Lysak, head of the Odesa City Military Administration, reported that buildings have been damaged in several districts of the city. Car fires were also seen in Odesa.

Ukraine's military reportedly launched a wide-ranging drone attack on the Russian city of Belgorod overnight on Aug. 9, Russian Telegram media channels reported.

The figure includes 1,130 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day, according to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Aug. 8 called on Russia and Ukraine to impose a moratorium on attacks on vessels in the Black Sea amid the increasing number of strikes on ships in the region.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug. 8 that he was "satisfied" with the result of a 40-day influence operation designed to compel Russia to "end the war," suggesting that Kyiv's forces will continue to strike Russian logistics beyond the limited timeline.

The drone entered Bulgarian airspace from Romania and exploded approximately 1 kilometer away from a compressor station on the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline. There were no casualties or damage.

The details come a few days after a Ukrainian cargo plane loaded with ammunition was targeted by a drone carrying explosives at Germany's Leipzig/Halle Airport late on Aug. 4, German media reported.

The package includes 70 M39 ATACMS missiles, 12 M270 multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), over 2,000 cluster munitions, and 47,000 howitzer rounds, according to a notice from the U.S. State Department.

Serbian President Alexander Vucic on Aug. 8 backed Ukraine's bid for EU membership on the second day of President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the country.

A Belgian factory continues to operate in Russia's special economic zone known as a key defense production site despite EU requirements to leave the zone by late January 2026.

The attack occurred at around 8 a.m. local time, according to the local branch of public broadcaster Suspilne.

What is life like for Ukrainians in Donbas as invading Russian forces inch closer? In this report, the Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell and Olena Zashko travel across Donetsk Oblast to document life in the remaining areas of Ukrainian-controlled Donbas.

Ukraine's recent strikes have targeted some of the biggest oil refineries in Russia, seeking to further exacerbate the country's fuel crisis.