The situation 1261 – August 29, 2025

• Russia reportedly leveraged the August 15 Alaska Summit in order to stall for a planned Fall 2025 offensive, among other things.
• Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov gave a major speech at the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) Collegium on August 29 and gave an update on the ten priority directions for the Russian MoD.  Belousov also discussed Russian battlefield progress in Ukraine and exaggerated Russian gains in recent weeks.
• Belousov indicated that the Russian MoD has shifted its priorities to produce light vehicles over heavy armored vehicles, reflecting Russian battlefield tactics since Winter 2024–2025.
• Belousov stated that Russia continues to focus on developing its Unmanned Systems Forces and drone production capacity.
• Belousov indicated that the Russian MoD is expanding its efforts to digitalize Russian recruitment, likely as part of wider efforts to augment Russia’s administrative capacity to handle conscription and mobilization processes.
• Ukrainian forces continue to strike Russian military assets and energy infrastructure in Russia and occupied Ukraine.
• Ukraine’s ongoing strikes campaign against Russian oil infrastructure continues to contribute to gasoline shortages in Russia.
• US and Ukrainian representatives met in New York City on August 29 and reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness for peace negotiations with Russia, including at the level of heads of state.
• The US State Department approved a $825 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of aviation ammunition and related equipment to Ukraine.
• Russian forces recently executed seven Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) near Myrolyubivka, Donetsk Oblast.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced in northern Kharkiv Oblast and Russian forces recently advanced near Borova and Pokrovsk.

The full update of the Russian offensive 1261 is available on UNDERSTANDING WAR