🇷🇺❌🇺🇦 — 🧐 ISW on 𝕏:

"Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 19, 2026: https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-19-2026/"

🔗 Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar)

🇦🇪🇺🇸❌🇮🇷 — 🧐 ISW on 𝕏:

"NEW: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is intensifying economic pressure on Iran to discourage Iranian efforts to control or disrupt navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE announced on August 18 that it would halt all trade and financial transactions with Iran. The announcement comes after the UAE accused Iran of launching missiles from Iranian territory toward the UAE on August 18.

Other Key Takeaways:

The UAE has previously supported US efforts to undermine Iranian control of the strait, which suggests that the UAE’s decision is part of a broader effort to raise the costs of Iran’s attempts to control or disrupt maritime traffic.

The UAE’s decision will further weaken Iran’s already deteriorating economy by restricting both its access to essential imports and its ability to repatriate export revenues and circumvent sanctions. Roughly one-third of Iran’s imports have come from the UAE, and the largest proportion of Iranian imports in the last five years come from the UAE have made the UAE.

Iran will likely respond to the UAE’s decision with greater military and economic pressure against the UAE rather than abandon its efforts to secure greater control over the Strait of Hormuz. ISW-CTP previously also assessed that Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Commander Major Ahmad Vahidi’s faction — whom ISW-CTP continues to assess is driving regime decision-making — may be willing to accept some economic costs and the risk of renewed war if doing so enables them to achieve their core objectives, including Iranian control over the strait.

Increasing Emirati alignment with the United States will also drive longer-term hostility between the UAE and Iran. It is not clear the extent to which the Iranian regime decisionmakers have internalized the ramifications of long-term hostility with the UAE, given the economic relationship between the two states.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaydi is under pressure from both the United States and Iranian-backed Iraqi actors over Iraqi militia disarmament but appears to be responding primarily to militia pressure at this time. Zaydi reportedly planned to increase security measures and deploy a special Iraqi Counter Terrorism unit near Jurf al Sakhar, south of Baghdad, to monitor the movement of people and vehicles, and would not lead to a raid or a military incursion into the militia’s key site.

Iran has also dispatched senior Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, to Baghdad in recent days to discourage conflict between the Iraqi federal government and the militias. These officials are also discouraging disarmament."

🔗 Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar)

🇷🇺❌🇺🇦 — 🇺🇦 General Staff of the Armed Forces:

"Operational Information as of 08:00 on 20.08.2026 Regarding the Russian Invasion

The 1639th day of the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has begun.

In total, 234 combat engagements were recorded during the past 24 hours.

Yesterday, the enemy launched 99 air strikes, dropping 330 guided aerial bombs. In addition, the invaders used 10,459 kamikaze drones and carried out 3,118 artillery strikes on populated areas and the positions of our troops.

The settlements of Korenevka, Ulanove, Bachivsk, Tovstodubove, Vyntorivka, Yastrubshchyna, and Atinske in the Sumy region came under artillery fire. The enemy also launched an air strike on the area near the settlement of Tovstodubove.

During the past day, the aviation, rocket forces, and artillery of the Defense Forces struck one area of concentration of enemy personnel, four command and control points for unmanned aerial vehicles, and three command and observation posts.

On the North-Sloboda and Kirska fronts, our defenders repelled four enemy assaults. At the same time, the aggressor launched three air strikes using eight guided aerial bombs and carried out 72 artillery strikes on the positions of our troops and populated areas, including one using multiple launch rocket systems.

On the South-Sloboda front, Ukrainian units repelled 17 enemy attacks. The invaders attempted to advance in the areas of Staritsa and Lyman, as well as in the directions of Volkhivka, Karayichne, Okhrimivka, and Bochkove.

No offensive operations were carried out by the enemy on the Kupiansk front during the past day.

Attempts to break through our defenses were repelled on the Lyman front, where the occupiers attacked 11 times in the areas of Zarychne and Lyman, as well as in the directions of Shiykivka, Karpivka, Novoselivka, and Drobysheve.

On the Sloviansk front, the enemy launched 19 attacks in the areas of Riznykivka, Ozernoye, Kryva Luka, and Zakytne, as well as in the directions of Rai-Oleksandrivka and Mykolaivka.

On the Kramatorsk front, the occupiers attacked four times in the directions of the settlements of Nykyforivka, Dibrova, and Vasyutinske.

On the Kostyantynivka front, 24 attacks were recorded. The invaders conducted offensive operations in the areas of Kostyantynivka, Illinivka, and Ivanopillia, as well as in the directions of Novodymitrnivka, Pavlivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, and Novoselivka.

The largest number of offensive operations were recorded on the Pokrovsk front, where our defenders repelled 26 attacks. The enemy was active in the areas of Bilytske, Kotlyne, and Molodetske, and also launched attacks in the directions of Myrne, Vilne, Kucherov Yar, Hannyvka, Matiasheve, Svitlo, Shevchenko, Vasylivka, Udachne, and Muravka.

On the Oleksandrivka front, the invaders launched five attacks in the directions of the settlements of Voskresenka, Piddubne, Nove Zaporizhzhia, and Rybne.

On the Huliaipole front, the occupiers attacked 11 times. The enemy attempted to advance in the area of Hirkе, as well as in the directions of Dobropillia, Vozdvizhivka, Tsвітkove, and Novoselivka.

On the Orikhiv front, our defenders repelled three enemy attempts to advance in the directions of Stepove, Malyi Shcherbaki, and Prymorske.

On the Prydniprovskyi front, the enemy did not conduct any offensive operations during the past day.

No signs of the formation of offensive formations of the enemy were detected on the Volyn and Polissia fronts.

In total, during the past day, the losses of the Russian invaders amounted to 1480 people. Also, seven tanks, three armored combat vehicles, 56 artillery systems, seven multiple launch rocket systems, 10 ground-based robotic complexes, 1672 unmanned aerial vehicles, 500 units of trucks, and three units of special equipment of the enemy were destroyed."

🔗 Source:

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

↗️ The Sever Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade of the AFU, and a territorial defence brigade close to Sadki, Tolstodubovo, and Ulanovo (Sumy region).

💥 In Kharkov region, strikes were delivered at formations of two mechanised brigades, a motorised infantry brigade, an assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a territorial defence brigade near Sliznevo, Novoaleksandrovka, Ivanovka, Blagodatnoye, Kazachya Lopan, and Vasilyevka (Kharkov region).

▪️ The AFU losses amounted to up to 200 troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, three armoured fighting vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, and one electronic warfare station.

↗️ The Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, an assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a marine brigade, and two territorial defence brigades close to Studenok, Podliman, Nizhneye Solenoye, Andreyevka, Chervony Oskol (Kharkov region), Sidorovo, and Svyatogorsk (Donetsk People's Republic).

▪️The enemy losses amounted to more than 210 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, and one field artillery gun.

🚩 As a result of intensive actions, units of the Yuzhnaya Group of Forces liberated Nikolaypolye in the Donetsk People's Republic.

🔥 Russian elements engaged formations of two mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade, two mountain assault brigades, and one assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Nikolayevka, Vysokoivanovka, Belenkoye, Slavyansk, Druzhkovka, Kramatorsk, Nikonorovka, and Kurtovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

▪️ The enemy lost over 250 troops, two U.S.-made Stryker armoured personnel carriers, one armoured fighting vehicle, 22 motor vehicles, and seven field artillery guns.

🚩 As a result of the resolute actions, the Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Matyashevo in the Donetsk People's Republic.

💥 Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, a jaeger brigade, an assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two national guard brigades close to Maryevka (Dnepropetrovsk region), Svyatogorovka, Dobropolye, Novonikolayevka, Veseloye Pole, Rubezhnoye, Novogrigorovka, and Annovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

▪️ The AFU losses amounted to more than 370 troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, eight motor vehicles, and one electronic warfare station.

👉 See Part 2

🔹 Russian Defence Ministry

🎖🎖 by Russian Defence Ministry on progress of special military operation as of 20 August 2026

Part 2 (👉 See Part 1)

↗️ The units of the Vostok Group of Forces advanced to the depths of the enemy's defence. Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of two air assault brigades, an assault brigade, two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a marine brigade close to the Velikomikhaylovka (Dnepropetrovsk region), Volnyanka, Nikolskoye, Zelenaya Dibrova, Vasinovka, Shevchenkovskoye, Timoshevka, and Yegorovka (Zaporozhye region).

▪️The enemy lost more than 320 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, and five motor vehicles.

↗️ The Dnepr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. Russian troops hit a mechanised brigade and a mountain assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Preobrazhenka, Orekhov, Yulyevka, and Grigorovka (Zaporozhye region).

▪️ The AFU lost up to 40 troops, 20 armoured fighting vehicles, one field artillery gun, and two electronic warfare stations.

✈️ Operational-tactical aviation, attack drones, missile troops and artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have inflicted damage on the fuel, power, and transport infrastructure of Ukraine employed by the AFU, storage sites of unmanned aerial vehicles and their components as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 147 areas.

▫️ Air defence systems shot down 11 guided aerial bombs and 1,504 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

📊 In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost:

▫️ 674 aircraft,
▫️ 284 helicopters,
▫️ 214,914 unmanned aerial vehicles,
▫️ 669 anti-aircraft missile systems,
▫️ 30,660 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles,
▫️ 1,774 MLRS combat vehicles,
▫️ 36,211 field artillery guns and mortars,
▫️ 69,742 units of support military vehicles.

🔹 Russian Defence Ministry

🇷🇺❌🗺 — ✍️ ARKHANGEL SPETSNAZA:

"Burn, Kyiv, burn brightly

✍️Last night, Russian forces launched another missile and drone strike on Kyiv and surrounding cities, including Boryspil. The attack involved at least 25 cruise missiles, 10 ballistic missiles, and over a dozen "Geran" kamikaze drones.

▪️Where did the Russian Armed Forces strike?

💥A Fire Point LLC industrial facility, which produced components for long- and medium-range attack drones, as well as assembling and storing accelerators used in "Flamingo" cruise missiles;

💥A Ukrspeccystems company's trade and warehouse complex, where components for long- and medium-range attack drones were manufactured;

💥An unidentified assembly plant in the aviation industry;

💥State Enterprise "Antonov," which produced the long-range An-196 "Lutyi" drone and also developed and manufactured piloted aircraft of various types;

💥An ammunition depot storing M-900 thermobaric aircraft bombs, anti-tank mines, and ammunition for "Baba Yaga" drones.

💥In the Kyiv region, the Martusivka transport and logistics center (Zamler Group logistics center) and the Brovary fuel depot were attacked, which stored up to 8,000 cubic meters of fuel intended for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

💥In addition, on the evening of August 19, warehouses with military equipment were hit in the ports of "Chornomorsk" and "Yuzhny."

❗️Furthermore, last night, the Izmail and Kilia areas were attacked by kamikaze drones. These areas have become key ports for supplying the Ukrainian Armed Forces due to the blockade of Odesa.

Explosions were also reported in Krivoy Rog, and in the Kirovohrad, Cherkasy, and Poltava regions. A blackout occurred in the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration, likely due to a strike on the Sloviansk TPP.

❗️Such attacks need to be continued and scaled up, as their results are already being felt. The enemy is increasingly unable to produce drones in Kyiv, which is convenient for them, and is forced to rely on direct supplies from abroad, which should also become targets of future strikes."

🔗 Source:

🇺🇦❌🇷🇺 — 🇺🇦 General Staff of the Armed Forces:

"⚡️⚡️ Oil refinery and oil terminal of the enemy hit.

On August 19th and during the night of August 20th, 2026, units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine struck a number of important enemy targets.

Specifically, the "TANECO" oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, was hit, with an impact confirmed, followed by a fire on the territory of the plant.

ℹ️ "TANECO" can process up to 16 million tons of crude oil per year. It produces a wide range of petroleum products, including motor fuels and other oil refining products. It is involved in supplying the enemy's army.

In addition, the "Tamanneftegaz" oil terminal in Volna, Krasnodar Krai, Russia, was hit. A fire was reported on the territory of the facility.

ℹ️ "Tamanneftegaz" is one of the key Russian oil terminals in the Black Sea region. The capacity of the Taman transshipment complex allows for the transshipment of up to 19.9 million tons of oil, petroleum products, and liquefied hydrocarbon gases per year. The terminal provides the transshipment of oil and petroleum products from rail transport to sea vessels. It provides logistical and fuel needs for the Russian army.

The extent of the damage is being clarified."

🔗 Source:

🇷🇺❌⛽🗺 — ⭐️ Rybar:

"Fuel Collapse

The Russian army continues its systematic targeting of the fuel and energy sector of the so-called Ukraine. Between August 1 and August 18, at least 48 strikes were reported against gas stations and oil refineries across various regions.

➡️The adversary suffered the heaviest losses of gas stations in border regions; the Sumy and Kharkiv regions accounted for more than half of all strikes. Notably, on August 16, a combined strike was launched against the oil refinery in Kremenchuk, utilizing Iskander-M missiles, FABs equipped with UMPK glide kits, and Geran drones.

🔻Key strike statistics:

▪️The bulk of the attacks targeted the Kharkiv region, where a significant number of gas stations in various settlements were hit.

▪️Geran and Gerbera drones remain the primary strike assets. However, FPV drones, Lancet loitering munitions, and ballistic missiles were also employed in several instances.

▪️The highest number of strikes on the fuel infrastructure of the so-called Ukraine occurred on August 2, with nine attacks launched against enemy gas stations.

➡️Simultaneously, operations targeting railway infrastructure—which directly impacts the fuel crisis—are ongoing. Rail-based fuel delivery is becoming increasingly problematic; strikes on rolling stock and railway hubs are curtailing the capacity to transport fuel to end-users.

Furthermore, diesel locomotives themselves consume significant quantities of fuel, while the use of electric locomotives has become increasingly difficult due to constant attacks on the energy grid in border regions. This continues to affect prices: the cost of gasoline and diesel has risen in certain regions, while queues and supply disruptions are being reported at gas stations in frontline areas.

📌Systematic fire strikes against fuel infrastructure and logistics create a domino effect. Disrupting rail links complicates fuel delivery, while the destruction of gas stations makes distribution impossible. Consequently, even the fuel supplies still reaching the border regions of so-called Ukraine either cannot be transported to consumption points or lack the necessary refueling infrastructure.

High-resolution map"

🔗 Source:

🇷🇺❌🇺🇦 — ⭐️ Rybar:

"Fighting on the Approaches to Dobropillya

In the Dobropillya sector, Russian units are continuing their offensive, gradually compressing the enemy's defenses and expanding their zone of control. Advances in several areas have been confirmed by objective monitoring footage.

➡️Near Shevchenko, the Russian army has established a foothold on the outskirts of Vodyanskoye and is operating within the territory of Svetloye. Additionally, the Ministry of Defense reports that Russian units have liberated the settlement of Matyashevo.

➡️On the eastern flank of this sector, the 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces succeeded in liberating Novonikolayevka. This was made possible by the capture of a major strongpoint west of Krasny Ugol, which assault troops are using to covertly mass forces. However, other nearby fortifications remain within the combat zone, preventing any immediate widening of the penetration or the establishment of secure supply routes.

📌At the same time, reports are emerging from the Ukrainian side claiming that Russian forces have entered the eastern outskirts of Dobropillya. However, these claims lack supporting objective monitoring footage; given the challenging conditions for aerial reconnaissance ("contested airspace"), they should be treated with skepticism.

❗️Nevertheless, it is evident that the situation on the approaches to Dobropillya is steadily deteriorating for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This likely explains the redeployment of additional drone units to this sector from the southern front. The enemy hopes to slow the Russian advance by increasing strikes on rear-area supply lines.

In light of this, it is essential to expand the use of mobile anti-drone teams within the troops, actively hunt down enemy UAV operators, and systematically disrupt their operations. Eliminating drone crews deprives the AFU of both "eyes" and strike capabilities, which will directly impact the stability of the enemy's defense.

High-resolution map"

🔗 Source

🇺🇸🇷🇴✈️❌🙏🇷🇺 — 🇩🇪 BILD:

"❗️Romanian fighter jet shoots down explosive-laden sea drone in the Black Sea

A Romanian F-16 fighter jet shot down a sea drone equipped with explosives this morning in the area of the Neptun Deep gas platform in the Black Sea. The drone was detected by the coast guard just a few hundred meters from the facility, where several hundred workers were present at the time. Romanian Defense Minister Radu Miruță stated that the drone did not belong to Ukraine, and its origin is currently unknown.

After consultations with President Nicolae Dan, a decision was made to destroy the drone in order to protect people and critical infrastructure. Two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled, and one of them shot down the sea drone with its onboard cannon.

The President of Romania thanked the pilots and military personnel for the operation, calling it a protection of the lives of people on the platform. At the same time, Dan accused Russia of escalating "irresponsible incidents" and stated that the country remains ready, together with its NATO allies, to counter such threats.

This is not the first incident involving drones in Romania. Last night, a Russian drone violated the country's airspace near Galati, after which two NATO fighter jets and a Romanian helicopter were scrambled to intercept it."

🔗 Source:

🔗🇭🇷👃💥⛽️ — 🇩🇪 BILD:

"Suspect in the "Nord Stream" sabotage case arrested in Croatia during filming of a Hollywood movie.

One of the suspects in the "Nord Stream" pipeline sabotage case was arrested directly on a film set in Croatia. The Ukrainian, Vladimir Z., whom the German prosecutor's office suspects of involvement in the attack on the pipelines, was spotted in the city of Pula. According to local media reports, the arrest took place during the filming of a Hollywood political thriller, "Snake Island," which is about the operation of Ukrainian divers.

According to German investigators, Vladimir Z. was part of a group led by another suspect, Sergei K. They are alleged to have been involved in preparing the explosions on the "Nord Stream" pipelines in September 2022. The investigation believes that the divers planted explosives on the pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

This is the third attempt by German law enforcement to arrest the suspect. In 2024, he was tried to be arrested in Poland under a European warrant, but he managed to escape and fled to Ukraine. In the fall of 2025, he was again arrested in Poland, but the Polish court refused to extradite him to Germany.

Now, Vladimir Z. is to be handed over to the German authorities and brought before an investigating judge at the Federal Supreme Court of Germany. The basis for the arrest was a European warrant issued in 2024."

🔗 Source:

🇺🇦🇺🇦🏃‍♂ — 🇩🇪 BILD:

"❗️Dozens of Ukrainian soldiers have deserted during training in Germany — Die Zeit

Ukrainian soldiers sent to Germany for training sometimes do not return to their units after completing the course. According to an investigation by Die Zeit, approximately 80 cases of desertion have been registered in the state of Saxony-Anhalt alone. Across Germany, the number could be in the hundreds.

Since 2022, approximately 29,000 Ukrainian soldiers have undergone training at around 60 military facilities in Germany. They studied shooting, camouflage, first aid, and other basic skills. The German Ministry of Defense confirmed that some soldiers "left their training locations without permission," but no nationwide statistics are kept.

According to Ukrainian law, unauthorized absence from a unit is considered desertion and can result in imprisonment. However, the likelihood of the deserters facing a Ukrainian court is slim. At the same time, they cannot automatically qualify for the simplified residency program for Ukrainian refugees in Germany, as they arrived in the country not as civilians fleeing the war.

Some of them may try to stay in Germany through the asylum application process. To do this, they will have to prove that they face danger or persecution if they return to Ukraine. Although Die Zeit reports that the chances of obtaining asylum are low, the process itself can take about a year or longer."

🔗 Source:

🇺🇦❌🇷🇺 — ✍️ ARKHANGEL SPETSNAZA:

"Drone Attacks on Crimea and Tatarstan

✍️ Simultaneously with the Russian Armed Forces' strikes on Ukrainian territory, Ukrainian formations carried out another massive drone attack, involving over 1000 drones in a single day.

Air defense units destroyed at least 726 drones during the night of August 20th. An additional 438 were detected during the day on August 19th.

▪️ Several different targets in the Black Sea zone, as well as in the Volga region and the Urals, were hit, where the flight of "Lutyi" drones was recorded.

In Crimea, a complete blackout occurred after the night attack, and the consequences are currently being addressed. Ukrainian channels report a strike on a substation in Taman.

It is likely that this is the reason for the disruptions in supply. In addition, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked a port on the coast of the Krasnodar region.

▪️ For the umpteenth time in recent weeks, Ukrainian formations attacked Nizhnekamsk, specifically the "TANEKO" oil depot.

This time, the AFU again struck civilian targets. According to preliminary reports, the attack was carried out on a hostel where workers were staying. So far, 9 deaths have been reported.

❗️ Drones were also shot down in the direction of the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions. It is not ruled out that the AFU were again attempting to attack ports in the Caspian Sea or gas production platforms in the sea."

🔗 Source: