Aug 4, 2026, 11:00 PM UTC

An adviser to Iran's supreme leader, Mohsen Rezaei, claimed Tehran aborted planned military strikes against three Ukrainian targets after Kyiv provided clarifications regarding an incident involving an Iranian commercial ship in the Caspian Sea. According to Iranian state media, Ukrainian representatives initiated direct communications to clarify the situation, leading Tehran to cancel its intended response.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, cautioned that NATO relies on outdated military doctrines and lags behind Russia in drone warfare. He estimated that the alliance would require roughly 12 years to reach half of Russia's operational capabilities in modern warfare. Additionally, defense experts warned that deepening ties among Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea pose a growing strategic threat to Western security.

Sources: Liga net, NEXTA, NV, Radio Svoboda, Ukrainska Pravda

Ukrainian forces conducted strikes against several key Russian military targets, hitting a temporary deployment point of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) in occupied Shchaslyvtseve, Kherson Oblast, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainian strikes also damaged a road bridge over the Seim River in Russia's Kursk region and a railway bridge in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

In separate tactical actions, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces captured two Russian service members. Meanwhile, reports indicate Russian authorities are prosecuting Ukrainian soldiers captured during the Kursk offensive on terrorism charges rather than granting standard prisoner-of-war protections.

Additionally, Kherson police released footage of a Russian drone strike targeting a 52-year-old civilian vendor, underscoring ongoing risks to non-combatants.

Sources: Liga net, NV, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда

Moldova's Foreign Ministry has initiated an internal review to determine how entry visas and official invitations were issued to a delegation from Afghanistan's Taliban-controlled Ministry of Agriculture.

The arrival of the Afghan delegation in Chișinău prompted government scrutiny due to international sanctions against the Taliban administration over human rights concerns. Moldovan officials confirmed that the delegation received entry permits, but emphasized that no official meetings or contacts with state representatives would take place during their stay.

In response to oversight concerns, the government ordered a comprehensive audit of internal procedures governing visa requests and invitations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that administrative protocols are being overhauled to clarify responsibility and prevent unauthorized entry authorizations in the future.

Sources: Ziarul de Gardă, Moldova1, Digi24, Newsmaker, G4Media.

Russia claims to have destroyed 320 Ukrainian drones across 19 regions overnight, including near Moscow. According to Moscow Regional Governor Andrey Vorobyov, a drone attack killed five people and injured six others after igniting fires in the Novoselki industrial area. The strike damaged a warehouse belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s largest e-commerce platform.

In a related development, Portuguese drone manufacturer Tekever responded to reports from Russian state media claiming Moscow had captured one of its drones operated by Ukraine. Tekever declined to comment on specific client missions, stating its systems undergo constant evolution to maintain operational security.

Sources: Diário de Notícias (DN), Expresso, Jornal Económico, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)

Denmark has officially launched its reformed military conscription system, extending the required service period from four months to 11 months. On Monday, an initial intake of approximately 1,600 recruits began training at military barracks across the country.

The reform, designed to enhance operational capacity and defense readiness in Northern Europe, also extends conscription obligations to women. While female participation was previously voluntary, domestic media reported that the proportion of voluntary female applicants dropped to its lowest level in 15 years leading up to the change. The expansion reflects broader regional efforts across Scandinavia and the Baltic region to reinforce defense posture amid shifting security dynamics.

Sources: Berlingske, Defence Turk, NU, Opex360, Tagesschau