Putin is finally speaking about attacks on Wildberries

Russian President Vladimir Putin has downplayed the impact of Ukrainian attacks on Wildberries warehouses while ordering the government to restore Russia’s damaged logistics infrastructure.

Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, accounts for nearly half of the country’s online retail market and has increasingly been targeted by Ukraine because it sells dual-use goods that can support Russia’s war effort. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said on Aug. 16 that seven of Wildberries’ 10 largest logistics centers had been put out of action, with another warehouse near Moscow damaged in an Aug. 18 drone attack.

Putin said the strikes had caused no critical consequences but acknowledged the need to restore damaged facilities. He ordered the government to develop a program to rebuild Russia’s logistics and warehousing capacity using what he described as “a qualitatively new standard” of technology.

Lavrov announced the establishment of a "new world order" with North Korea

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said Moscow and Pyongyang are working together to establish what he called a “new and just world order,” signaling further deepening ties between the two countries.

In a message to North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, Lavrov said Russia and North Korea were seeking a world order based on “true equality and national interests” and expressed Moscow’s readiness to expand cooperation with Pyongyang.

The statement comes amid growing military and political ties between Russia and North Korea. Pyongyang has provided Moscow with troops and weapons for its war against Ukraine, including an estimated 14,000 soldiers deployed to Russia in late 2024. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has also recently called for closer relations with Moscow.

Russians attacked Zhytomyr with drones, hit police building

On the afternoon of August 19, Russian forces carried out a daytime attack on Zhytomyr using jet-powered drones (including Banderol-type loitering munitions). The main target was the building of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Zhytomyr Oblast.

Explosions were reported starting around 15:49 local time, with additional blasts shortly afterward. The strike hit the regional police headquarters directly. Emergency services, including rescuers from the State Emergency Service, medical teams, and other specialized units, were immediately deployed to the scene.

According to later statements from the National Police of Ukraine, the attack killed two police officers and injured at least 20 people. Information about casualties was initially listed as being clarified by local authorities. Head of the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration Vitalii Bunechko confirmed the hit on the police building and urged residents to remain calm and rely only on official sources, asking people not to share photos or videos from the site.

The Ukrainian Air Force had earlier warned about the movement of Banderol munitions toward Zhytomyr. This attack is part of Russia’s increasing use of faster, jet-powered drones against both civilian and administrative targets across Ukraine.

Switzerland followed the EU in its temporary protection for Ukrainian men policy

Switzerland has extended temporary protection for people fleeing Russia’s war in Ukraine until March 4, 2028, while introducing new restrictions for future applicants.

The Swiss Federal Council said protection status S remains the best way to protect Ukrainians and reduce pressure on the asylum system, given the lack of prospects for a lasting ceasefire. The government said it would reassess the status if the situation in Ukraine stabilizes.

Under the new rules, Switzerland will only grant S status to new applicants who comply with their military obligations in Ukraine. The restriction applies to applications submitted on or after August 20, 2026, and does not affect Ukrainians who already hold S status. Switzerland said it is aligning its policy with the EU, which extended temporary protection until March 2028 while tightening access to the scheme.