Toplines
Russian forces launched a prolonged combined drone and missile strike series against Ukraine, primarily targeting Kyiv City and Oblast, that lasted for more than 28 hours in an effort to maximize civilian damage and disrupt daily civilian functions on August 28 and 29. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched over 550 S8000 Banderol loitering munitions, Shahed- and Gerbera-type strike drones, and Parodiya-type decoy drones against Ukraine throughout the day on August 28, overnight on August 28 to 29, and throughout the day on August 29.[1] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched an unspecified number of Onyx anti-ship missiles and Iskander-M ballistic missiles from occupied Crimea overnight on August 28 to 29.[2] The Air Force noted that an unspecified number of air targets struck 15 locations and that debris fell at four locations. The Air Force’s data suggests that Ukrainian forces intercepted six Banderol loitering munitions and about 86 percent of Russian strike drones on August 28 and 29. The Air Force ceased regularly reporting the numbers of Russian ballistic missiles launched and intercepted as of August 11.[3] CNN reported that Ukrainian air raid alerts lasted for more than 28 hours in total between midnight on August 27 and midday on August 29 — an abnormally prolonged timeframe in which Russian forces most likely sought to exhaust Ukrainian air defenses, disrupt civilian daily functions, and increase the degree of damage inflicted later in the strike series.[4] Kyiv City Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko reported that Russian drones struck Kyiv City for the third consecutive day, injuring at least five people and damaging residential and civilian infrastructure.[5] Russian forces likely sought to exhaust Ukrainian forces defending Kyiv, particularly ahead of the August 28 to 29 strikes.
Ukrainian officials also noted that Russian strikes damaged civilian infrastructure in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast; energy, port, and transportation infrastructure in Odesa Oblast; and civilian infrastructure in Mykolaiv Oblast.[6] Russian combined and prolonged strike packages continue inflicting substantial damage in ways that disproportionately impact civilians despite a high Ukrainian drone interception rate.[7] Russia adopted daytime strike patterns in addition to its nighttime strikes in early April 2026 to cause significant disruptions in civilian daily life and the Ukrainian economy.[8]
Russian forces struck an ammunition warehouse on the western outskirts of Kyiv City on August 29, triggering secondary detonations and killing at least 37 people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on August 29 that Russian forces struck a warehouse near Myla, Kyiv Oblast, implying that the warehouse contained unspecified ammunition near civilian infrastructure.[9] The strike caused a fire and secondary detonations, damaging at least 130 residential buildings and a retirement home, killing at least 37, including the Dmytrivska hromada head Taras Didych, who was part of the rescue team, and injuring at least 42.[10] Ukrainian authorities also restricted movement along a section of the M-06 Kyiv City-Chop highway following the secondary detonations.
The Russian government extended the fuel export ban for direct producers despite continued efforts to posture stable domestic fuel supplies. The Russian Cabinet of Ministers voted on August 29 to extend the export ban on diesel, marine fuel, and gas oils for direct producers until September 30 in order to maintain stable supplies for the domestic fuel market.[11] The previous direct producer restrictions remained in effect until August 31, 2026. Russian officials imposed in late July 2026 a general ban on gasoline and jet fuel exports through the end of 2026.[12] The head of the Russian state energy company Rosneft, Igor Sechin, claimed on August 29 that Rosneft is meeting domestic fuel demands despite restrictions on its refining capacity.[13] Many Russian federal subjects and areas in occupied Ukraine continue struggling with fuel shortages, however, as Russia’s refining capacity reportedly hit a 20-year low in mid-August 2026.[14] Continued Ukrainian strikes against Russian oil infrastructure are reducing Russia’s ability to export fuel, depriving Moscow of the ability to fully benefit from the rise in global oil prices in the past few months due to the war in the Middle East, and forcing more people in Russia to feel the impacts of the war in Ukraine.[15]
Key Takeaways
- Russian forces launched a prolonged combined drone and missile strike series against Ukraine, primarily targeting Kyiv City and Oblast, that lasted for more than 28 hours in an effort to maximize civilian damage and disrupt daily civilian functions on August 28 and 29.
- Russian forces struck an ammunition warehouse on the western outskirts of Kyiv City on August 29, triggering secondary detonations and killing at least 37 people.
- The Russian government extended the fuel export ban for direct producers despite continued efforts to posture stable domestic fuel supplies.
- Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Dobropillya direction.
- Ukrainian forces struck the warehouses of major Russian online retailers in Rostov Oblast on August 27 to 28.
We do not report in detail on Russian war crimes because these activities are well-covered in Western media and do not directly affect the military operations we are assessing and forecasting. We will continue to evaluate and report on the effects of these criminal activities on the Ukrainian military and the Ukrainian population and specifically on combat in Ukrainian urban areas. We utterly condemn Russian violations of the laws of armed conflict and the Geneva Conventions and crimes against humanity even though we do not describe them in these reports.
Ukrainian Operations in the Russian Federation
Ukrainian forces struck the warehouses of major Russian online retailers in Rostov Oblast on August 27 to 28. Russian and Ukrainian sources, which often report on successful Ukrainian drone strikes, reported that Ukrainian forces struck warehouses belonging to Ozon (a Wildberries competitor), DNS (a major Russian electronics retailer), and Chyzhyk (produce wholesaler) in Rostov Oblast.[16] Russian opposition media outlet Astra assessed that footage of a smoke plume shows a fire at a DNS warehouse in Aksay, Rostov Oblast (roughly 210 kilometers from the frontline and in the Rostov-on-Don metropolitan area), and Ozon acknowledged a fire at one of its facilities in Rostov-on-Don.[17] DNS is the fourth-largest online retailer in Russia behind Wildberries, Ozon, and Yandex Marketplace, and the August 27 to 28 strikes appear to be the first Ukrainian strikes against a DNS facility.[18] Rostov Oblast Governor Yuriy Slyusar acknowledged that Ukrainian drones struck warehouses in Aksay.[19]
Ukrainian strikes against Russian port infrastructure prompted Rostov Oblast to declare a state of emergency on August 28. Slyusar declared a state of emergency on August 28 due to disruptions to maritime shipping in the Azov-Black Sea basin and cessation of port operations in Rostov Oblast after Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian maritime logistics infrastructure.[20] Slyusar noted that Ukrainian strikes caused Russian storage facilities to overfill with agricultural produce due to interruptions in maritime shipping. Ukrainian strikes have significantly reduced Russian grain exports from Black Sea and Azov Sea ports, which reportedly account for over 80 percent of all Russian international grain exports.[21] Ukrainian strikes will likely continue to impose harsh economic consequences on Russian federal subjects as Russia struggles to adequately defend against or counter Ukrainian strikes.
Ukraine continues its suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses (SEAD/DEAD) campaign in Bryansk Oblast. The Ukrainian General Staff reported on August 29 that Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system near Klintsy (about 46 kilometers from the international border) on August 28.[22] Ukrainian defense manufacturer Fire Point reported that Ukrainian forces struck a Pantsir-S1 air defense system of the Russian 210th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment in Bryansk Oblast on August 27, and a Russian insider source claimed the strike occurred near Kletnaya (about 52 kilometers from the Bryansk-Sumy Oblast international border).[23]
Russian Supporting Effort: Northern Axis
Russian objective: Create defensible buffer zones in Sumy Oblast along the international border
A Ukrainian official source refuted Russian claims of advances northeast of Sumy City. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed on August 29 that Russian forces seized Khrapivshchyna (northeast of Sumy City).[24] The Ukrainian Kursk Grouping of Forces refuted the Russian MoD claim on August 29 and stated that Ukrainian forces control Khrapivshchyna.[25] The Russian Northern Grouping of Forces also posted a map on August 29 claiming that Russian forces seized Nova Sich (northeast of Sumy City), but ISW did not observe evidence to confirm this claim.[26]
Russian Main Effort: Eastern Ukraine
Russian Subordinate Main Effort #1 – Kharkiv Oblast
Russian objective: Push Ukrainian forces back from the international border to create a defensible buffer zone with Belgorod Oblast and approach to within tube artillery range of Kharkiv City
Russian forces continued offensive operations in northern Kharkiv Oblast on August 28 and 29 but did not advance.[27]
Ukrainian forces continued to strike Russian frontline military assets in northern Kharkiv Oblast and Belgorod Oblast. A commander in a Ukrainian brigade reported on August 29 that Ukrainian forces struck an Msta-B towed howitzer and Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system in northern Kharkiv Oblast.[28] The commander added that the situation in northern Kharkiv Oblast has not changed, and that Ukrainian forces are trying to prevent Russian forces from transferring ammunition and personnel closer to the frontline. Geolocated footage published on August 29 shows Ukrainian forces striking a Russian drone control point west of Dubrovka, Belgorod Oblast (roughly 6 kilometers from the international border).[29]
A source reporting on the Russian Northern Grouping of Forces and Russian milbloggers claimed on August 29 that Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Velykyi Burluk direction, but ISW has not observed evidence that Russian forces advanced.[30]
Russian Subordinate Main Effort #2 – Oskil River
Russian objective: Cross the Oskil River in Kharkiv Oblast and push westward into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and northern Donetsk Oblast
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Kupyansk and Borova directions on August 28 and 29 but did not advance as Ukrainian forces counterattacked in both directions.[31] Russian milbloggers and a source reporting on the Russian Western Grouping of Forces claimed on August 29 that Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Dvorichna (northeast of Kupyansk) and near Ridkodub, Nove, and Katerynivka (all southeast of Borova).[32]
Russian Subordinate Main Effort #3 – Donetsk Oblast
Russian objective: Capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast, the claimed territory of Russia’s proxies in Donbas, and advance into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Russian political leadership continues to set unrealistic and ever-changing deadlines for Russian forces to seize the entirety of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Ukrainian Presidential Office Deputy Head Colonel Pavlo Palisa reported on August 29 that Russian political leadership ordered Russian forces to reach the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts (the entirety of Donbas) by December 31, 2026.[33] Palisa stated that Russian military leadership reportedly replied that this order was unrealistic and asked for a March 31, 2027 deadline instead. Palisa noted that it is unrealistic that Russian forces would meet either the December 2026 or March 2027 deadlines based on the current battlefield situation. Russian President Vladimir Putin has given Russian forces 15 separate deadlines since 2022 to seize the entirety of Donbas, and Russian forces have failed to meet any of them.[34] ISW continues to assess that the Kremlin’s deadlines for its military objectives remain unrealistic and that Russian forces are highly unlikely to seize Donbas by the end of 2026, if at all.[35]
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Slovyansk direction on August 28 and 29 but did not advance.[36] A source reporting on the Russian Western Grouping of Forces claimed on August 29 that Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Dibrova and Starodubivka (both east of Slovyansk).[37]
Russian forces are increasingly relying on foreign recruits as they accumulate personnel and resources for intensified future offensive operations in the Lyman direction. A spokesperson for a Ukrainian brigade operating in the Slovyansk direction reported on August 29 that Russian forces continue to accumulate personnel and equipment in preparation for intensified offensive operations in the Lyman direction (northeast of Slovyansk).[38] The spokesperson noted that the proportion of foreign recruits (mainly from Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia) in this direction recently increased to about 30 percent of Russian Armed Forces personnel. The spokesperson stated that while Russian forces do appear to be accumulating in this direction, they remain poorly trained. The spokesperson added that Russian forces are prioritizing striking Ukrainian logistics and river crossings over the Oskil and Siverskyi Donets Rivers, likely as part of shaping efforts for the intensified offensive operations in the future.
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area on August 28 and 29 but did not advance, as Ukrainian forces counterattacked.[39]
Russian forces conducted frontline strikes against a civilian hospital and postal logistics in and near Kramatorsk (northwest of Kostyantynivka). The Kramatorsk City Council reported on August 29 that Russian forces deliberately struck a hospital in Kramatorsk, damaging its emergency department.[40] Ukrposhta (Ukrainian postal service) General Director Ihor Smilyansky reported on August 29 that Russian forces struck a Ukrposhta truck near Kramatorsk, injuring the driver and destroying around 500 parcels.[41] A representative for a humanitarian mission in Donetsk Oblast stated that the number of civilians wishing to evacuate from Donetsk Oblast increased by 20 percent since Russian forces intensified strikes against the region.[42]
Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Dobropillya direction. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Dorozhnye (southeast of Dobropillya), according to geolocated footage published on August 29.[43] Ukrainian forces also either maintained positions or advanced west and south of Novyi Donbas, given that Ukrainian forces are present in these areas according to geolocated footage published on August 28 and 29, contrary to Russian claims.[44]
The Russian MoD claimed on August 29 that Russian forces seized Novoandriivka (northeast of Dobropillya).[45]
Neither Ukrainian nor Russian forces reported ground activity in the Pokrovsk direction on August 29.
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Novopavlivka and Oleksandrivka directions on August 28 and 29 but did not advance.[46]
Ukrainian forces continued intermediate-range strikes against Russian military assets in occupied Donetsk Oblast. The Ukrainian General Staff reported on August 29 that Ukrainian forces struck at least one Russian long-range drone storage, preparation, and launch site near occupied Donetsk City (roughly 60 kilometers from the frontline) as well as a Russian drone control point near occupied Berestky (roughly 30 kilometers from the frontline) on August 28 or overnight on August 29.[47]
Russian Supporting Effort: Southern Axis
Russian objective: Maintain frontline positions, secure rear areas against Ukrainian strikes, and advance within tube artillery range of Zaporizhzhia City
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Hulyaipole direction and in western Zaporizhia Oblast on August 29.[48]
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on August 29 that the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been without external power supply for 10 days and only has enough fuel for diesel generators to last another 10 days.[49]
Neither Russian nor Ukrainian forces reported ground activity in the Kherson direction on August 29.
Ukrainian forces continued their intermediate-range strike campaign against Russian military assets in occupied Crimea. The Ukrainian General Staff reported on August 29 that Ukrainian forces struck at least one Russian long-range drone storage, preparation, and launch site near occupied Hvardiiske, Crimea on August 28 or overnight on August 29.[50] NASA Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) data shows heat anomalies at the northern end of the Hvardiiske Air Base on August 28.[51] Geolocated footage published on August 28 shows damage to a Russian ammunition depot in occupied Voinka (roughly 110 kilometers from the frontline) after a reported Ukrainian strike.[52]
Russian Air, Missile, and Drone Campaign
Russian Objective: Target Ukrainian military and civilian infrastructure in the rear and on the front line
See topline text for Russian drone and missile strikes against Ukraine overnight.
Significant Activity in Belarus
Russian efforts to increase its military presence in Belarus and further integrate Belarus into Russian-favorable frameworks
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Putin’s residence in Moscow Oblast. Lukashenko and Putin met on August 29 at Putin’s Novo-Ogaryovo residence near Moscow City and discussed increasing trade turnover between Russia and Belarus, Russian direct investment, and cooperation in technology and production of electronics.[53] Putin and Lukashenko did not discuss the war in Ukraine or military affairs, according to the Kremlin.
Note: ISW does not receive any classified material from any source, uses only publicly available information, and draws extensively on Russian, Ukrainian, and Western reporting and social media as well as commercially available satellite imagery and other geospatial data as the basis for these reports. References to all sources used are provided in the endnotes of each update.
[1] https://t.me/kpszsu/75261
[2] https://t.me/kpszsu/75160
[3] https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-11-2026/
[4] https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/29/europe/ukraine-kyiv-russia-war-attack-intl
[5] dot media/kyiv/1390510-tretij-den-ataki-rf-na-kiiv-uskodzenna-v-privatnomu-sektori-travmovano-dvi-ludini/; dot com.ua/2026/08/29/tragediya-v-kyyevi-vnaslidok-padinnya-vorozhogo-bpla-zagynula-dvorichna-divchynka-pyatero-lyudej-travmovano/; ; ; ; ; ; https://t.me/vitaliy_klitschko/7358
[6] ; ; ; ; ; ; dot media/mykolaiv/1390574-bez-svitla-ponad-300-tis-abonentiv-armia-rf-atakuvala-energeticnu-infrastrukturu-mikolaivsini/; dot media/mykolaiv/1390504-armia-rf-zavdala-kombinovanogo-udaru-po-mikolaivsini-poskodzena-infrstruktura/; dot media/odesa/1390500-zaginula-ludina-troe-poraneni-na-odesini-pisla-ataki-gorili-vantazivki/ ;
[7] https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-17-2026/
[8] https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-28-2026/
[9] 508130563 ; ; ; ; dot gov.ua/news/pislya-situaciyi-u-vishnevomu-she-odin-takij-zlochin-ce-abso-106165;
[10] dot media/kyiv/1390464-kilkist-poranenih-zrosla-do-5-ludej-u-seli-mila-stalasa-detonacia-naslidki-udaru-rf/; dot io/news/2026/08/28/v-kievskoy-oblasti-posle-rossiyskoy-ataki-nachalas-detonatsiya-premier-ukrainy-zayavil-chto-podobnyy-udar-po-vishnevomu-tam-pogibli-devyat-chelovek-ne-stal-urokom; ; dot media/kyiv/1390454-zahliva-tragedia-u-visnevomu-ne-stala-urokom-premer-koreckij-pro-udar-rf-po-kiivsini/; dot media/kyiv/1390432-na-kiivsini-cerez-obstril-perekrili-vidrizok-avtodorogi-m-06-kiiv-cop/; dot com.ua/2026/08/29/pozhezha-ta-detonacziya-na-kyyivshhyni-pislya-rosijskogo-udaru-ye-zagybli-evakuyuvaly-ponad-200-lyudej/; ; ; ; ; dot com.ua/2026/08/29/kryvavyj-udar-po-kyyivshhyni-42-postrazhdalyh-zagynuv-golova-gromady/ ; ; ; dot media/kyiv/1390654-pozeza-na-skladah-z-detonacieu-u-bucanskomu-rajoni-zaginuli-27-ludini/; dot io/news/2026/08/29/v-rezultate-rossiyskoy-ataki-po-skladam-pod-kievom-pogibli-27-chelovek; dot io/feature/2026/08/29/voyna; dot com.ua/2026/08/29/kilkist-zagyblyh-u-buchanskomu-rajoni-zrosla-do-37-kyyivska-oda/ ; ; ; https://t.me/kyivoda/55323
[11] dot ru/russia/1111982; dot ru/news/59723/
[12] https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-25-2026/
[13] dot ru/russia/sechi-rosneft-obespechivaet-rynok-toplivom-i-prodaet-ego-po-stabilnoj-cene; https://t.me/tass_agency/392517
[14] https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-28-2026/
[15] ; https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-19-2026/
[16] dot io/news/2026/08/29/ukrainskie-bespilotniki-atakovali-sklady-ozon-i-dns-v-rostovskoy-oblasti; dot com/uk/news/vpershe-atakuvaly-sklad-dns/ ; ;
[17] https://t.me/ozonmarketplace/3253
[18] dot io/news/2026/08/29/ukrainskie-bespilotniki-atakovali-sklady-ozon-i-dns-v-rostovskoy-oblasti
[19] https://t.me/Yuri_Slusar/6854
[20] dot ru/russia/1111867
[21] dot ru/business/1107891
[22] https://t.me/GeneralStaffZSU/42064
[23] ; https://t.me/dosye_shpiona/795
[24] https://t.me/warriorofnorth/21592
[25] https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=122145732303020644&id=61580619330534&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=X6c8gD0uPYWo2wJw#
[26] https://t.me/warriorofnorth/21592
[27]
[28] dot com.ua/2026/08/29/okupanty-gotuvalysya-do-nakopychennya-syl-ale-%c2%abapeks%c2%bb-znyshhyv-yihnyu-artyleriyu/; https://youtu.be/qBLrfziqXRw?t=2664
[29] https://t.me/kharkivnapriamok/4122
[30]
[31] ; https://t.me/GeneralStaffZSU/42061
[32] ; ; ;
[33] .media/1390450-na-kiivsini-gorat-skladi-fedorov-stavr-radnikom-ministra-oboroni-italii-1648-den-vijni/?anchor=live_1787996066&utm_source=copylink&utm_medium=ps
[34] ; ; ; ; https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment_25-24/
[35] ; https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-19-2025/
[36] ; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/47021;
[37]
[38] dot media/donbas/1390542-na-limanskomu-napramku-do-30-rosijskih-sil-stanovlat-inozemni-najmanci-66-ombr/
[39] https://t.me/motopatriot78/55619;
[40] https://t.me/kramatorsk_rada/27699
[41] https://www.facebook.com/igor.smelyansky/posts/pfbid02bmxHrDKKrnzvvSNi2KbGsXhDQ5buHGZw5URxgZiWSwgwwkeCV3gCR89brEPmTG5Kl
[42] ; dot media/donbas/1390620-kilkist-ohocih-evakuuvatisa-z-doneccini-zrosla-na-20-cerez-posilenna-obstriliv-proliska/
[43] https://x.com/moklasen/status/2093639453927436528
[44] https://x.com/moklasen/status/2093639453927436528
[45] https://t.me/mod_russia/66860
[46] https://t.me/GeneralStaffZSU/42061
[47] https://t.me/GeneralStaffZSU/42064
[48] ; https://t.me/rybar/82738
[49] https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/update-364-iaea-director-general-statement-on-situation-in-ukraine
[50] https://t.me/GeneralStaffZSU/42064
[51] https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/2093617429205196808
[52] https://x.com/zarGEOINT/status/2093426750977941807
[53] dot ru/events/president/news/80624; ;