On August 19, 2026, the UAE suspended all trade and financial operations with Iran following the detection of ballistic missiles. Tehran rejects the accusations, calling them unfounded.

US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman for the second time in four months due to an agreement with Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Washington fears losing control over the strategic waterway.

Iran declared two French diplomats persona non grata, accusing them of espionage. Paris responded in kind, announcing the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats.

The Federal Court of Canada rejected Volga-Dnepr's lawsuit to lift sanctions. The giant An-124 will remain under arrest in Toronto, and the parking debt has exceeded one million dollars.

The appointment of former Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko as head of Naftogaz is being delayed due to legal risks and negotiations with independent board members, despite political support.

🇳🇴 Norwegian institute Norce found guilty of discriminating against a Russian scientist. Despite the candidate being the best qualified, he was rejected twice due to his origin. The commission stated: security does not justify automatic rejections without individual assessment. Norce has already created a security committee and revised hiring rules. #Norway #Discrimination #Russia #Security

🚨 The End of the Kiselyov Era? The Kremlin Prepares the Resignation of Russia's Chief Propagandist. Dmitry Kiselyov may lose his posts on "Russia 1" and "Russia Today" due to falling ratings and conflict with the administration. Evgeny Popov may take his place. Details in our longread! 📉📺 #Kiselyov #Kremlin #Media #Politics

🇺🇸 The US is facing a shortage of spare parts for Bradley IFVs supplied to Ukraine. The Pentagon is seeking contractors capable of resuming production of discontinued units, such as control modules and lights. The goal is to revive the equipment and train Ukrainian mechanics. 🚜🔧 #Ukraine #USA #MilitaryAid #Bradley #Pentagon

🇺🇸 Pentagon reconsiders strategy after war with Iran: US may shift bases west to Jordan and Israel. 🚀 Iranian missiles struck bases in February, killing 18 soldiers. 🤔 Dispute in Trump administration: isolationists vs. hawks. 🌊 Strait of Hormuz remains closed; Iran demands fulfillment of 'Islamabad Memorandum'.

🇺🇸 The US has imposed sanctions against ICC President Tomoko Akane and lawyer Abdoulaye Seyie. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused them of prosecuting individuals from countries that do not recognize the court's jurisdiction. Assets have been frozen, and access to the financial system has been blocked. Previously, ICC judges sued Trump over similar measures. 🏛️⚖️ #ICC #Sanctions #Politics

🇩🇪 A court in Stuttgart sentenced a Ukrainian to 1 year and 3 months for espionage on behalf of the Russian Federation. The man was convicted for sending GPS trackers but acquitted of preparing sabotage. Two accomplices were fully acquitted. The prosecution demanded up to 4 years in prison but failed to prove a detailed attack plan. The case is being considered against the backdrop of statements about Russia's hybrid war in Europe. 🕵️‍♂️📦

🇺🇦 Former Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov has called for elections to be held in Ukraine during wartime. According to him, democracy cannot be a hostage of Russia, and the right to vote must be available to all citizens, including military personnel and refugees. The politician also pointed to a crisis of trust in the authorities due to bureaucracy and the opacity of decision-making. #elections #Ukraine #Fedorov #politics

⚠️ The Union of Cities of Ukraine has warned about the risks of Draft Law No. 14405. The document simplifies the dismissal of community heads, which could lead to a crisis in local self-government. Currently, 321 municipalities are operating without a legally elected head. The UCA proposes returning to the 2022 practice. #Ukraine #LocalSelfGovernment #DraftLaw14405

🇬🇧🇷🇺 Sergey Lavrov warned Britain of consequences following reports of British Nyan drones being used in strikes on Russia. The Foreign Minister stated: "I pity Britain if it fights to the end". London responded by refusing to reduce aid to Kyiv. #Lavrov #Britain #Drones

🚨 Jet drones reach western Ukraine for the first time, flying 900 km! 🇺🇦 Today, August 18, 2026, an unprecedented flight of Russian UAVs through Vinnytsia, Ternopil, and Rivne region was recorded. Experts link this to the implementation of mesh networks and new "Geran-4/5" models. Explosions were also recorded in Kyiv and Brovary. 🚀🔥 #Ukraine #Drones #Geran #MilitarySituation

🔥 Estonia suspects Russia of arson at the Milrem Robotics factory. Prime Minister Mihkel stated that the identities of the suspects have been established and a request for their arrest has been filed. The incident is viewed as an attempt to intimidate the country and halt support for Ukraine. 🇪🇪🇺🇦

🔥 Yevhen Khmara officially heads the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine! After a month in an acting capacity and the resignation of Mykhailo Fedorov, the Rada has approved the new minister. Find out how the appointment went and what will happen to the team! 🇺🇦 #Ukraine #MinistryOfDefense #Khmara

⚠️ Winter 2026: PM Koretsky warns that Russian attacks on infrastructure will intensify. 🏗️ Underground schools are being built in Ukraine: by the end of the year, there will be about 200. 🔋 19.5k schools already have generators and solar panels. 🇷🇺 Intelligence: Russia has developed drones to strike power lines. 💰 Ukraine is short 650 million euros for energy. #Ukraine #Winter2026 #Koretsky #Energy