Ukrainian Civilians Now Supplying Russian Forces With Target Coordinates

In one case, a drone bore a message attributing the strike to residents of the town

(Credit: New Rules Geopolotics)

The Russian military has increased the frequency and scale of coordinated strikes against Ukrainian defence targets. Over the past week, five group attacks using precision-guided weapons and drones targeted Ukrainian military and industrial infrastructure. Confirmed strike locations include Pavlograd in the Dnipropetrovsk region, as well as Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkov, Sumy, Slavyansk, and Kramatorsk. A Ukrainian drone production site in Donetsk was destroyed by a three-drone strike from multiple angles.

Russian ground forces continued their offensive, capturing ten settlements across several regions. These include Dektyarneia in Kharkov, Malinovka and Kamenskaya in Zaporizhia, and seven named villages in Donetsk. According to German media, Russian forces have taken 2,395 square kilometres since January, exceeding the previous year’s total of 3,388 square kilometres. The current pace of Russian advance has intensified, with gains now surpassing the annual average established in the prior campaign phase.

Ukraine’s military now faces a deeper constraint in manpower rather than equipment. Reports acknowledge that frontline positions cannot be held without additional conscripts. Russian drone strikes have recently targeted military enlistment offices, including one in Pyedekaki. Social media evidence suggests local civilians are supplying Russian forces with target coordinates. In one case, a drone bore a message attributing the strike to residents of the town. Additional incidents include sabotage attempts on enlistment centres in Odessa, including an attempted Molotov attack.

The Ukrainian Defence Ministry has admitted that 20 percent of conscription records remain undigitised, making the physical infrastructure of recruitment offices a vulnerability. Their destruction delays mobilisation and contributes to the broader manpower crisis. The Ukrainian border service reports that military-age men are fleeing primarily to Romania, Moldova, Slovakia, and Hungary, with fewer seeking refuge in Poland. In response, the government has launched a military training programme for schoolchildren under the name “Werewolf,” a reference to Hitler’s wartime command post near Vinnytsia and to the Nazi youth militias formed during Germany’s final war phase.

Martial law has again been extended by presidential decree, postponing national elections. Within this window, Zelensky has carried out a major cabinet reshuffle. Prime Minister Shmyhal has been reassigned to the Ministry of Defence despite lacking a military background. Svyrydenko, formerly economy minister and deputy prime minister, now holds the post of prime minister. She is a known loyalist to Zelensky’s adviser Andriy Yermak, whose influence continues to expand within the administration. Former Defence Minister and chief negotiator Rustem Umerov has been reassigned, with initial reports claiming this effectively removed him from Ukraine’s negotiating team. However, Zelensky has now appointed him as Secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine to ensure his status for further negotiations with the Russian Federation, according to MP Kostenko. The Istanbul negotiation process, which had previously produced two rounds of direct talks and led to prisoner exchange agreements, has stalled. Russian officials had proposed a conditional ceasefire during the June round, requesting that Ukraine suspend all deliveries of Western weapons. The proposal was rejected by Kyiv. President Putin later stated that Ukraine was using the talks to pause fighting and rearm. Moscow maintains it will not accept NATO forces in Ukraine under any pretext, including peacekeeping missions.

(Former Ukraine Defense Minister, Rostem Umerov)

Umerov’s removal and the promotion of domestic loyalists mark a consolidation of control within Kyiv and a shift away from diplomacy. It is reported the US refused the appointment Umerov as Ambassador of Ukraine to Washington due to his American citizenship, according to former Verkhovna Rada deputy Mosiychuk. His reassignment coincided with the arrival of US General Keith Kellogg, who is expected to remain in Kyiv for one week. Kellogg’s visit has overlapped with Ukrainian preparations for long-range missile strikes into Russian territory. Reports indicate that he is likely involved in coordinating those operations.

The Biden and Trump-aligned elements of the US foreign policy establishment are now pursuing a mixed strategy of pressure and engagement. Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to Russia expires on September 3rd, aligning with a scheduled summit in Beijing attended by Putin. China has extended an invitation to Trump. The ultimatum includes a threat of 30 percent tariffs on European exports and secondary sanctions on countries purchasing Russian energy. European governments, including the UK and Germany, have responded by expanding military support to Ukraine. Britain has trained 55,000 soldiers and 3,000 drone operators. Joint procurement of American weapons is now under discussion among European partners.

Recent reports from the Washington Post and Politico claim that Trump urged Zelensky to launch offensive operations during a private call, warning that Ukraine could not succeed through defence alone. Trump reportedly discussed potential strikes on Moscow and St Petersburg, according to a Ukrainian official present during the call. These developments come as European leaders attempt to rehabilitate Zelensky’s image in Trump’s eyes. Macron, Starmer, Merz, and Finnish President Stubb have all been involved in efforts to manage Zelensky’s presentation. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has also contributed to the campaign. Zelensky has since abandoned his pledge to only wear military clothing until victory, appearing at a summit in formal business attire.

Zelensky has announced that Ukraine is ready to resume negotiations and has proposed new talks with Russia as early as next week. The offer, reportedly made by Umerov before his reassignment, has been confirmed by a source on the Russian side. No dates have yet been finalised, but contact continues. The previous two rounds in Istanbul involved the exchange of draft proposals and prisoner lists. Russia’s conditional ceasefire offer from the last round remains unmet.

Zelensky has also announced a proposed arms export arrangement with the United States involving domestically produced drones. No confirmation of the deal has come from the US Department of Defense, and the claimed agreement contradicts existing Pentagon procurement plans. Under a separate programme titled “Test in Ukraine,” NATO-linked weapons manufacturers have been authorised to trial equipment on the battlefield and receive operational feedback.

Trump’s position on Ukraine remains contradictory. While publicly calling for a quick and low-cost settlement, his administration continues to support military expansion and operational planning. Internal divisions remain evident. General Kellogg has taken the lead on Ukraine, sidelining other figures like Witkoff who favoured a less aggressive posture. Despite privately acknowledging that Ukraine cannot win, Trump continues to back initiatives that escalate the conflict. This reflects both his limited control over the dominant neoconservative faction in Washington and the broader institutional alignment behind continued military engagement.

Ukrainian conscription capacity has been severely reduced. Russian strikes on military registration centres have become more accurate, in part due to local residents providing strike coordinates. Growing public opposition to mobilisation has shifted internal dynamics. The pace of Russian advance has continued without interruption. Kyiv’s political realignment and the reshuffle of its diplomatic and defence leadership indicate that domestic decision-making is now tied more closely to Washington’s political calendar than to the battlefield situation.

Talks between Ukraine and Russia remain technically possible, but key personnel changes, mismatched conditions, and unresolved disagreements over military aid have left the negotiation process unstable. The absence of a fixed date for resumed talks reflects that reality. Until the two sides agree on basic terms, neither a ceasefire nor a settlement is likely.

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Global GeoPolitics

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