The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine published a night vision drone image this Sunday, accompanied by a powerful message: “The work continues. The aggressor will continue to feel the consequences”, directly referring to the ongoing military operations against Russia.
The publication arrived hours before the 35th anniversary of Ukrainian independence, which is commemorated this Monday, August 24, a date when Russia historically escalates its attacks against the country.
The image, shared by the official account @DefenseofUkraine on X, shows a green targeting reticle over a vehicle or structure viewed from above, with the Ukrainian trident—symbol of the Armed Forces—in the upper right corner.
The message comes amid an intense drone campaign that Ukraine carried out from Saturday night into Sunday, when its forces attacked the Novokuibyshevsk refinery in the Samara region, causing a fire, and struck the logistics center of the Ozon company in Chapayevsk, also in Samara, halting its operations.
According to Russian authorities, the Ukrainian attacks from August 22 to 23 resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to two adults in Yeysk, in the Krasnodar region, as well as two deaths and 13 injuries in the Belgorod region.
In response, Russia launched 49 drones against Ukrainian territory that same night, of which the air defenses shot down 36, while 13 reached seven locations in the regions of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Sumy.
The Ukrainian air offensive this weekend is part of a sustained campaign that has targeted Russian infrastructure throughout the summer, including refineries, military bases, and logistical centers within the aggressor country.
The largest attack of the month occurred between August 15 and 16, when Russia claimed to have shot down 1,478 Ukrainian drones in 24 hours; nonetheless, the offensive resulted in at least six deaths on Russian territory and set fire to a warehouse of the company Wildberries near Podolsk.
The cumulative impact of these attacks has been acknowledged by the Russian government itself. Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Novak admitted in early August that some Russian refineries have reduced their production due to Ukrainian drones.
On the ground front, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) estimated that Russia captured only 37.85 km² in July 2026, while the Ukrainian General Staff reported 42,860 Russian casualties that month, the highest monthly total since the beginning of the large-scale invasion in February 2022.
Related videos:
Filed under: