- Russian president Vladimir Putin has admitted that Ukrainian strikes are inflicting damage on the country, though he insisted the attacks have not caused critical consequences.
- Ukraine has significantly escalated its long-range drone attacks against critical Russian energy infrastructure over recent months.
- The Russian public is withdrawing billions of dollars from banks amid fears that the Kremlin could nationalise or seize deposits to finance the ongoing war.
- Data from the Russian Central Bank reveals that nearly 286.4bn rubles ($3.4bn) was withdrawn in the first two weeks of August, following outflows of $7.3bn in July and over $4.5bn in June.
- Former Russian Central Bank adviser Alexandra Prokopenko noted that the record cash withdrawals demonstrate deep public anxiety over potential government interference in the banking system.
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