Key Takeaways from the ISW:
- Russia is escalating strikes against Ukrainian-Moldovan border infrastructure in conjunction with its campaign against Ukrainian port and maritime infrastructure.
- Russian forces are using the strikes along the Ukrainian-Moldovan border to achieve broader political effects.
- The Kremlin is attempting to address concerns about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decree that set conditions for nationalization of critical infrastructure facilities.
- Russia launched another satellite into orbit on August 24 for military purposes, potentially as part of its broader efforts to establish a Rassvet (Russian analogue to Starlink) satellite constellation.
- US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe reportedly arrived in Moscow on an unscheduled trip, marking what would be Ratcliffe’s first visit to Russia since becoming CIA director.
- Ukrainian forces continued their long-range strike campaign against Russian oil and energy infrastructure. Russia launched an unspecified number of Iskander-M ballistic missiles, Kh-31P anti-radar missiles, and 150 drones against Ukraine overnight.
- Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Kupyansk and Borova directions.
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