Aug 25, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC

Media watchdogs in Serbia have reported a sharp rise in intimidation, death threats, and physical assaults targeting journalists and cultural figures.

The Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia registered 19 safety incidents in July, including 14 direct physical threats and two physical assaults. Concurrently, the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation tallied over 100 verbal attacks launched against press professionals by government officials and ruling party representatives.

Recent harassment has affected diverse public figures. The Journalists' Association of Serbia called for criminal prosecution after online death threats targeted regional portal Volim Zrenjanin. Meanwhile, the Association of Independent Media condemned intimidation against editor Dragan J. Vučićević. Separately, Belgrade prosecutors launched an inquiry following the physical assault of film director Stevan Filipović.

Sources: Beta, CDM (Cafe del Montenegro), Danas, N1, Tanjug

Ukrainian long-range strikes hit key industrial sites in Russia's Samara region, according to satellite imagery and regional reports. Attacks targeted the Progress Rocket Space Centre and the adjacent Aviakor aviation facility, which manufacture Soyuz space launchers and service Tu-95 strategic bombers. Russian officials confirmed aerial attacks across several western regions, including Nizhny Novgorod, Penza, and Rostov, triggering air defence responses.

Simultaneously, intense ground combat continued along the eastern front, with Ukrainian officials recording over 250 daily military engagements. Russian forces pushed on the Lyman, Kupyansk, and Pokrovsk axes, advancing south of Dobropillia and attempting to split Ukrainian positions east of the Oskil River. Ukrainian troops reportedly countered several assault attempts while heavy fighting persisted across multiple operational sectors.

Sources: Mediazona, Point, The Insider, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree permitting state-appointed external management over critical infrastructure facilities if owners fail to properly protect them against drone attacks. The measure allows authorities to temporarily replace corporate leadership at strategic assets deemed to have ineffective defenses.

The decision coincides with expanded digital oversight in Russia, where investigative authorities are deploying artificial intelligence and biometric tools to trace suspects, and authorities are enhancing travel surveillance. Additionally, documents revealed cryptocurrency exchange Binance provided customer transaction data to Russian investigators, resulting in terrorism financing charges against an IT specialist accused of donating to Ukrainian funds.

In a separate development in the United States, an experimental artificial intelligence system managing a San Francisco retail store autonomously terminated an employee over repeated absences, highlighting growing workplace automation.

Sources: Mediazona, NEXTA, Point, The Insider, Verstka.

Cross-border attacks and frontline combat intensified as strikes hit civilian and commercial infrastructure. A Russian strike on Kyiv resulted in nine deaths and 33 injuries. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone operations targeted Russian commercial infrastructure, igniting fires at Wildberries facilities in the Leningrad and Moscow regions and hitting six Ozon logistics hubs within three days, including a major site in Makhachkala, Dagestan.

Inside Russia, five casualties were reported in Moscow Oblast, while a drone crash on a beach in Krasnodar Krai killed seven people. Along the front lines, Russian forces registered a tactical push near Artilne in the Kharkiv region, while Ukrainian forces reported advances near Uspenivka and Velyka Novosilka. Additionally, Belarus reportedly established a new air assault brigade along its border with Ukraine.

Sources: Mediazona, Point, The Guardian, The Insider, Радіо Свобода

US President Donald Trump stated that discussions with Teheran are progressing and predicted the Strait of Hormuz could reopen "very soon," while warning Iran will be hit "very strongly" if no agreement is reached. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also noted positive steps in discussions mediated by Oman.

However, Iranian authorities insisted the strategic waterway will stay closed until Washington lifts port blockades and oil sanctions, unfreezes Iranian assets, and halts military actions. Although Tehran confirmed establishing a safe navigation route with Oman, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leaders pledged "strategic surprises" for the US as defense doctrines are revised.

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