Ukraine buys 70 ATACMS missiles, other US weapons from Turkey in a major defense package.
Russian forces launched a series of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of August 8 to 9.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 17 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles, Onyx anti-ship missiles, and Kh-31P anti-radar missiles from occupied Crimea and the Black Sea region and 202 Shahed-type, Gerbera-type, and Parodiya-type drones and Banderol loitering munitions from the directions of Kursk and Oryol cities; Millerovo, Rostov Oblast; Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Krai; occupied Donetsk City; and occupied Hvardiiske, Crimea.[80]
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces downed 174 drones and five Banderols, that missiles and drones hit 22 locations, and that missile debris fell on six locations. The Ukrainian Air Force added that several missiles did not reach their intended targets. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces struck residential, energy, commercial, agricultural, rail, and port infrastructure in Odesa, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Kherson, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Chernihiv, and Donetsk oblasts.[81] Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Vyhivksyi reported on August 9 that Russian forces conducted a double-tap strike during the day on August 9 against Ukrainian emergency workers responding to the overnight Russian strikes in Zaporizhia Oblast, killing a firefighter.[82]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on August 9 that Russian forces continue to heavily rely on ballistic missiles in their strike packages against Ukraine as part of efforts to exploit Ukrainian shortages of interceptor missiles.[83] Zelensky stated that Russian forces launched 61 missiles, including 56 ballistic missiles; more than 1,560 strike drones; and 1,540 glide bombs against Ukraine between August 3 and 9.
135 of 151 Russian drones were shot down or suppressed overnight, Ukraine’s Air Force says. Russia also launched six Iskander-M ballistic missiles and S-400 missiles. Missile and 13 drone hits were recorded at 12 locations, with debris falling at 7. Several missiles missed their… pic.twitter.com/vx3LJU36l2
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) August 8, 2026
Russian forces are increasingly striking Ukrainian railway infrastructure. Geolocated footage published on August 9 shows Russian forces conducting Shahed-type drone strikes against a locomotive near Kudashivka, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast; a railway crane, repair train, and locomotive in Lozova, Kharkiv Oblast; and a locomotive near Bilany, Sumy Oblast.[84] Ukraine’s railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia reported on August 8 that Russian forces struck a passenger train in Sumy Oblast on the Sumy City-Kyiv City route.[85]
There have been 41 Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine railways this week alone; 450 passenger trains had to be stopped and evacuated; 11 locomotives got damaged; 6 railway employees have been killed (incl. 3 in a “double tap” follow-up strike) and 17 injured: post by the Ukrzalinytsia.
— Alex Panchenko (@alexpanchenko2.bsky.social) 2026-08-07T16:33:12.735Z
Russian forces continued to heavily target Odesa Oblast on the night of August 8 to 9.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 11 missiles of various types, most of which were ballistic missiles or travelled on ballistic trajectories, and up to 100 drones and loitering munitions, including jet-powered drones and six Banderol loitering munitions, against Odesa Oblast on the night of August 8 to 9.[11] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian air defenses downed one missile, five of the Banderols, and 72 percent of the drones; that three missiles did not reach their targets; and that missiles and drones hit nine locations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on August 9 that Russian forces struck residential and port infrastructure in Odesa Oblast, injuring at least eight people.[12] Odesa Oblast’s primary utility and water management company, Infoxvodokanal, reported energy and water outages in several raions in the region following the strikes.[13] Russian forces have intensified their strike campaign against Ukrainian port infrastructure in Odesa Oblast and vessels calling at Ukrainian Black Sea ports since at least July 10.[14] The Ukrainian Ministry of Community and Territorial Development reported that Russian forces struck 67 seaport facilities, 35 civilian vessels in ports, and 22 ships in the Ukrainian sea corridor in total in July 2026.[15]
1/2Odesa was subjected to more attacks throughout the afternoon, with the air alert finally switched off just over an hour ago. Russia launched more missiles & drones: one person was killed.Earlier the route to the Moldova border was hit at Mayaki, but the bridge is now open.
— Tim White (@twmcltd.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T16:01:47.683Z
Russian forces struck the Mayaki bridge on the M-15 Odesa City-Reni highway connecting southern Ukraine to Moldova and Romania on August 9. …A local news outlet for Izmail City (located near the bridge) reported on August 9 that a Russian strike damaged the bridge, and Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service reported on August 9 that Ukrainian authorities temporarily restricted traffic on the M-15 highway following Russian strikes.[18] Russian forces previously struck the Mayaki bridge in December 2025.[19]
Explosive drone found near Ukrainian An-124 in Germany likely linked to Russia — WSJ / The New Voice of Ukrainehttps://www.europesays.com/germany/68997/A sapper at the site of the discovery of a UAV at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Schkeuditz, Germany, August…
— (@eu-de.bsky.social) 2026-08-08T11:15:02+00:00
23:15 | 09/08Approximate flight routes of our UAVs:🔴 Red arrows — directions of strike UAV movement;🔵 Blue arrows — directions of jet-powered UAV movement;According to Russian sources, around 380 drones were reported, though these estimates and the displayed routes remain highly approximate.
— DroneBomber (@dronebomber.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T20:18:13.152Z
Ukrainian forces continued their long-range suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses (SEAS / DEAD) campaign against air defense assets in Russia. Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) Commander Major Robert “Magyar” Brovdi reported on August 9 that Ukrainian forces struck Russian S-400, Pantsir-S1, and Tor air defense systems and Kasta 2E2 and Podlet-K1 radar systems in Krasnodar Krai and Rostov Oblast.[29]
Satellite imagery collected on August 7 shows the aftermath of a recent Ukrainian strike against a Russian Volna Kupol Garnat electronic warfare (EW) system, likely belonging to the Russian Federal Security Service’s (FSB) 32nd Border Detachment, in Gelendzhik, Krasnodar Krai (approximately 370 kilometers from the frontline).[30] The Volna Kupol Garnat EW system is designed to disrupt Starlink satellite communications by targeting spacecraft directly rather than local ground terminals.[31]
Ukrainian long-range strike campaign is forcing Russia to redeploy air defense assets from across the country to protect Moscow City. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on August 8 that Russian authorities have concentrated three rings of air defenses around Moscow City, reinforced by redeploying air defense systems from throughout Russia.[32] Zelensky stated that Russian authorities are also pulling air defense systems from across the country to defend St. Petersburg, but to a lesser extent than Moscow City. Ukraine’s ability to deliver long-range strikes across a wide variety of objects indicates that Russian forces are struggling to defend Russia’s vast territory and airspace beyond the immediate area of operations in Ukraine and major Russian cities.[33] Ukrainian forces can likely further exploit Russia’s degraded air defenses provided additional targeting, communications, and strike capabilities.
«Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.»
Martin Luther King Jr.
The combat losses of the enemy from February 24, 2022 to August 9, 2026. pic.twitter.com/2xLAAt4kzX
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) August 9, 2026
⚡️ RUSSIA’S WAR AGAINST UKRAINE — AUG 9, 2026
■ Engagements, casualties, and equipment losses remain below the 7-day average
■ KIU officer death batch: +37, including three senior officers
■ Major 🇷🇺 overnight attacks: 5 of 17 missiles intercepted; decent drone interception… pic.twitter.com/b0Za9EzrqX
— Ragnar Gudmundsson 🇮🇸🇺🇦 (@ragnarbjartur) August 9, 2026
General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Operational update as of 22:00 on August 9, 2026, regarding the Russian invasion.
In total, 213 combat engagements have taken place since the start of this 24-hour period.
The aggressor launched one missile strike, fired nine missiles, carried out 66 airstrikes using 211 guided aerial bombs, deployed 6,347 kamikaze drones for attacks, and carried out 2,114 shelling attacks on the positions of our troops and populated areas.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, two combat engagements have taken place since the start of the day; the enemy carried out 41 shelling attacks on the positions of our troops and populated areas.
Over the past 24 hours in the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy launched 12 assaults on the positions of our units in the areas around the settlements of Starytsia, Vovchansk, and Artilne, as well as toward the settlements of Izbytske, Volokhivka, Kupyne, and Khatne. Two firefights are still ongoing.
In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy launched two attacks in the area of Petropavlivka and toward Novoplatonivka.
Twenty-seven attempts by the invaders to advance were repelled in the Lyman sector near the settlements of Novoyegorivka, Novoselivka, Torske, and Yampil, as well as toward the settlements of Drobysheve, Lyman, Dibrova, and Ozerne. Seven engagements are ongoing.
In the Sloviansk sector, the Defense Forces successfully halted seven attempts by the invaders to advance in the area of Riznykivka and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian invaders carried out three attacks in the area of Nykyforivka and toward Yurkivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the Defense Forces repelled 24 enemy assaults in the areas around the settlements of Kostiantynivka and Illinivka, as well as toward the settlements of Dovha Balka and Mykolaypillya. Two firefights are ongoing.
The enemy carried out 19 attacks in the Pokrovsk sector. The occupiers attempted to advance in the areas around the settlements of Novooleksandrivka, Kotlyne, Udachne, and Molodetske, as well as toward the settlements of Kucheryv Yar, Nove Shakhove, Shevchenko, Svitle, Serhiivka, Muravka, Matyashieve, and Novopavlivka. Two firefights are still ongoing.
According to preliminary estimates, 40 occupiers were killed and 20 wounded today; one artillery system, a fuel and lubricants depot, 25 enemy personnel shelters, and three UAV command posts were destroyed. Three artillery systems, six vehicles, two pieces of specialized equipment, 13 UAV command posts, and 120 enemy personnel shelters were damaged. A total of 390 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types were destroyed or neutralized.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy launched three attacks toward Danilivka and Novozhorzhia.
In the Huliaipil sector, the Defense Forces repelled 17 enemy attacks toward the settlements of Vozdvyzhivka, Hirke, Huliaipilsk, Rivne, and Tsvitkove. Two firefights are ongoing.
In the Orikhiv sector, our defenders repelled two enemy attempts to advance toward Primorske and in the Plavni area.
In the Dnipro sector, the enemy did not conduct any offensive operations.
In other areas, there have been no significant changes in the situation.
Let’s defeat the enemy and bring our Victory closer!
Glory to Ukraine!
🇺🇦🚀 Fire Point announced the completion of the first stage of development of the Freyja missile defense system and its readiness to begin mass production of the FP-7X interceptor missile in August, as soon as it receives German-made infrared homing heads from Diehl Defence. 1/3
— MAKS 26 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) 2026-08-08T10:14:21.862Z
Fire Point has begun integrating radar, guidance and command systems from 13 European partners into Freyja, its FP7.X-based missile defense project. Reuters says the company aims for its first ballistic missile interception by mid-2027, with each interceptor targeted below €1 million. #Ukraine
— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) 2026-08-06T09:38:32.975Z
French-made STM32 microprocessors are reaching Russia through China and Hong Kong, OSINTflow says after reconstructing the supply chain. The chips are an important control component in Russian drones. #Russia pic.twitter.com/xydalwoy5w
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) August 9, 2026
Donald Trump posted a graphic targeting Abdul El-Sayed and his wife, comparing them to him and Melania with the caption “Two Very Different America’s.” Here’s how El-Sayed flipped it right back on him live on CNN:
— MeidasTouch (@meidastouch.com) 2026-08-09T14:01:38.034Z
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