The UAE and Russia have always shared strong ties, and today the presidents of both countries – Vladimir Putin and Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahan held a chat, in which they discussed multiple subjects. Meanwhile, Kyiv has confirmed that Volodymyr Zelensky will soon head to Serbia.
Russia Ukraine War Latest Update: Vladimir Putin Holds Call With UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahan
Today, Russian president Vladimir Putin had a call with his UAE counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahan. During that conversation, Putin thanked Al Nahan for facilitating the exchange of war prisoners and detainees a few years ago.
And both leaders also discussed the ongoing conflicts in their respective regions, along with ways to strengthen their bilateral ties. The news was stated by the Kremlin in a formal statement. The UAE authorities have not publicly commented about the call.
Russia Ukraine War Latest Update: Zelensky to Visit Serbia
The office of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky issued a press release today and informed that he will soon embark on an ‘official visit’ to Serbia. He will visit the country tomorrow afternoon (August 8, 2026) where he will be greeted by Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić . An official agenda for the trip has not been shared but the two leaders will likely discuss ongoing security tensions as well as ways to boost ilaterial ties between their respective countries. This will be Zelensky’s first visit to the country.
Serbia has not formally picked a side in the ongoing Russia Ukraine war, but is noted for being friendly to the Kremlin. Notably, it was in the process of joining the EU, but that process stopped due to Serbia’s pro-Russia policies.
Russia Ukraine War Latest Update: What Happened in Yekaterinburg?
According to reports, Ukraine has struck at least 20 warehouses owned by Russian retail giant Wildberries. And today was another example of that as Ukrainian troops struck a facility in Yekaterinburg, 1,400 km (870 miles) east of Moscow. The drone attack triggered a blaze but did not cause any casualties or injuries. Most of the retail giant’s goods remain undamaged, despite the strike.
But that was not the only target as Russian media shared that a separate Wildberries warehouse in Sverdlovsk region was also targeted. According to the company, that attack also triggered a fire in the facility.
Wildberries, which is frequently described as the Russian version of Amazon has declared that it will soon open ‘partner hubs’ for storing its products. Elaborating on that, the retail giant said that owners and tenants of suitable premises will be able to set up a partner hub and be paid for processing, storing and dispatching goods from marketplace sellers.
Russia Ukraine War Latest Update: Sweden Authorises Transfer of Ukraine Bound ‘Shadow Fleet Cargo Ship’
Today, the Supreme Court of Sweden officially cleared the transfer of the 96-metre Russian “shadow fleet” cargo ship Caffa to Ukraine, rejecting an appeal by its owner. According to Kyiv, the ship was allegedly transporting grain that was stolen from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory, including a shipment from Sevastopol in July 2025. Further details about the ship’s transfer have not been publicly disclosed yet.
