the West has unleashed a war on Russia, and Ukraine has attacked Crimea's missile defense.

On August 23, a Russian drone strike on a school in the Ukrainian city of Romny resulted in the death of two teachers. Ukraine announced the destruction of key Russian missile systems in Crimea, severely impacting Russia's air defence capabilities in the occupied region. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesman, has been absent after a controversial statement regarding the legitimacy of the upcoming Russian presidential election, leading to speculations about his whereabouts. A local Russian political candidate, Yulia Trukhmanova, faces expulsion from her party over derogatory comments she allegedly made about Putin. The Russian president asserted that Russia's actions in Ukraine aim solely to end a war that he claims was instigated by Western nations.