Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that his government played no role in the 2022 bombing of the Nord Stream undersea pipelines, which were designed to transport Russian natural gas to Germany. Zelenskyy stated that Germany was aware of Ukraine’s non-involvement in both the planning and execution of the operation. He emphasized the importance of maintaining partnerships with European supporters of Ukraine despite the allegations.
German prosecutors have alleged that the Nord Stream bombings were ordered by the Ukrainian state. Following the arrest of a Ukrainian man in Croatia on suspicion of involvement in the bombings, German authorities claim he worked with another Ukrainian individual arrested in Italy in 2025. The arrested man in Croatia was reportedly working on a film about the plot when detained.
Elsewhere in the conflict, Ukrainian drone attacks targeted Russian commercial logistics infrastructure. Russian retailer Ozon reported a significant fire at its distribution hub in Krasnodar following a drone strike, with additional strikes hitting facilities in the Orenburg and Samara regions. Ukrainian defence officials stated that Ozon’s warehouses were targeted following earlier operations against competing retailer Wildberries’ logistics hubs. Russian authorities reported casualties from debris striking a childcare facility, though independent verification was not available.
On the diplomatic front, a coalition of nations supporting Ukraine will convene in Kyiv, with leadership from Britain, France, and Germany jointly chairing the meeting. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to announce measures allowing defence contractor MBDA to share classified information for local production of the Storm Shadow/Scalp missile system. France has pledged to deliver the SAMP/T air defence system capable of intercepting certain ballistic missiles.
Domestically, Zelenskyy addressed the suspension of elections in Ukraine, stating that holding elections during wartime could destabilize the country. This followed former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s calls for elections after his removal from office. Intelligence assessments indicate Russia may plan additional military conscription following parliamentary elections scheduled for mid-September.
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