Tuesday, August 5. Russia's War On Ukraine: News And
Attacks and Counterstrikes
Lozova, Kharkiv region. One person was killed and 10 people, including two children, were wounded early on Tuesday, August 5, in Russia's largest air attack on Lozova, Kharkiv region. Russia struck civilian infrastructure in Lozova -- a town of an estimated 153,000 population -- with more than 25 drones.
Russian daytime attacks across Ukrainian-controlled territories killed at least 16 civilians and injured nearly 100 people between Aug. 1-3. In eastern Donetsk oblast, or province, 10 civilians lost their lives in attacks by Russian forces, which also left 46 injured. Russian strikes killed one resident in each of the northeastern provinces of Kharkiv and Sumy, with a total of 22 residents injured across both regions. In southern Kherson province, on the Ukrainian-controlled west bank of the Dnipro River, Russian drone attacks killed four civilians and injured 30 others.
Meanwhile, the death toll from Russia's July 31 overnight strike on Kyiv has increased to 31 victims, including five children, making it one of the deadliest attacks on the capital this year. More than 150 people were also wounded in the massive bombardment that saw a direct hit on a high-rise apartment building as residents slept.
Ukraine has retaliated against relentless Russian airstrikes by targeting an enemy airbase in occupied Crimea in the early hours of Aug. 4. The drone attack destroyed a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet and damaged several other aircraft. Ukrainian forces had systematically degraded the Russian air base's defenses in previous attacks, including one that destroyed an air defense unit.
On Aug. 3, Ukrainian drones struck a fuel depot at Sochi Airport in Russia's southern Krasnodar region. In addition to trying to weaken Russia's aviation capabilities and, in turn, its attack capabilities, Ukraine is also seeking to compromise the Kremlin's energy infrastructure. Following a Ukrainian drone attack on Aug 2, Russia's Ryazan oil refinery, located 130 miles southeast of Moscow and operated by state oil company Rosneft, was forced to reduce its production capacity by half. In 2023, Ryazan processed 13.1 million tons of crude oil, yielding significant volumes of gasoline and jet fuel.
This year, Ukraine has scaled back its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure relative to 2024, when it launched a series of strikes targeting refineries and oil depots starting last winter. While those strikes forced temporary shutdowns at several facilities, most Russian plants eventually resumed operations after brief interruptions.
Humanitarian Fallout in Donetsk and Donbas
Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, as water supplies in its Russian-occupied areas dwindle. Most residents of the eponymous regional capital now receive water only once every three days; Mariupol, the region's second-largest city, which was devastated in early days of the war, experiences even more sporadic deliveries. Smaller towns around the regional center of Donetsk have reportedly gone without water for weeks.
The severity of the shortages has prompted desperate public appeals, even from activists loyal to the Kremlin. In one widely-shared video, children pleaded directly to President Vladimir Putin for relief: 'We children should be running and laughing, not waiting for water to be delivered to us. Uncle Vova, help us,' said a girl from Donbas.
Adults are voicing frustrations as well. One man posted footage of murky gray water in a metal flask, asking Moscow-installed officials: 'Why do you hate us so much? Where are you all? What are you trying to do, poison us all as soon as possible?'
The crisis was precipitated by the destruction of the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal during Russia's 2022 invasion, which cut off the region's main water source. Moscow has since built a pipeline to channel water into occupied areas from its territories; its capacity, however, cannot meet the regions' civilian or industrial needs. Some residents also accuse local authorities of corruption during the building of the facility.
Even occupation officials have acknowledged the scale of the problem. Denis Pushilin, the Kremlin-appointed head of Donetsk region of Ukraine, admitted that workers must fix 'a hundred leaks a day' in the pipeline system and that up to 60 percent of piped water is being lost. In Mariupol, he said, water flows only for a few hours every two days; elsewhere, deliveries occur every three to four days at best.
Trump Threatens Tariffs on India Over Purchases of Russian Oil
On Aug. 4, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to 'substantially' raise tariffs on Indian goods due to the country's imports of Russian oil. In a post on his networking platform Truth Social, President Trump accused India, which increased its purchases of Russian oil after the country's invasion of Ukraine, of profiteering from the resulting disruption in global energy markets.
'India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits,' he wrote. Currently, Indian goods are subject to a minimum 10% tariff in the U.S., but Trump has already threatened to increase that rate to at least 25% by the end of the week.
President Trump's tariff threat comes as he has begun pressuring Russian leadership to end the war in Ukraine. His special envoy Steve Witkoff will arrive in Moscow later this week, just days ahead of the August 8 deadline set by Trump for the Kremlin to show progress toward peace. The visit was confirmed by both Washington and Moscow and could include a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following his trip to Russia, Witkoff might visit Ukraine.
These diplomatic efforts come amid escalating nuclear rhetoric between the U.S. and Russia. On Friday, President Trump announced he had ordered two nuclear submarines deployed 'in the region' following provocative comments by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Medvedev had warned that Russia has at its disposal a Soviet-era doomsday device capable of launching a nuclear strike even if the country's leadership is neutralized, after Trump threatened additional sanctions and tariffs on Russia over its war on Ukraine.
The Kremlin urged caution in response. 'We approach any statements related to nuclear issues with great caution,' said spokesman Dmitry Peskov and called on all parties to exercise 'utmost restraint' in their rhetoric. He further downplayed the submarine movements as standard U.S. operations.
By Danylo Nosov, Karina L. Tahiliani
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