‘Facing our last days’: Mariupol commander pleads for help as Russian forces close in

The commander of the last remaining Ukrainian troops holding the besieged city of Mariupol has appealed for help as Russian forces advance.

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The commander of the last remaining Ukrainian troops holding the besieged city of Mariupol has appealed for help as Russian forces advance.

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Talking Feds

Talking Feds is a roundtable discussion that brings together prominent former government officials, journalists, and special guests for a dynamic and in-depth analysis of the most pressing questions in law and politics.

Harry’s special roundtable this week focuses on the fortunes of the Democratic Party. Three top political thinkers—Micah Lasher, Amanda Litman, and Michael Steele—assess Democrats’ prospects in the midterms and 2028. They break down what the party needs to do—beyond opposing Trump—and how it can harness the energy and message of recent progressive successes without falling victim to intra-party division. Finally, they offer their ideas for the longer-term vision of the country that the Dems should stand for.

Mentioned in this episode:
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Micah’s Substack.
Amanda’s Substack.
Michael’s analysis.

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Russia-Ukraine War Updates
https://share.gemini.google/zJLvSa6xoWOw

Created with 3.1 Pro September 3, 2026 at 04:20 AM
Published September 3, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Russia Ukraine war news today

Here are the latest major developments in the Russia-Ukraine war as of September 3, 2026:

Sustained Aerial Campaigns
Kyiv Under Continuous Fire: The Ukrainian capital has faced Russian aerial attacks for seven consecutive days, with recent barrages injuring at least 13 people and causing damage to sites including the Boryspil area.

Ukrainian Strikes in Luhansk: In the Russian-controlled region of Luhansk, a series of Ukrainian drone strikes killed four people and injured three others, according to Russian-installed regional authorities.

Ukrainian long-range military drone in production, AI generated
Ukrainian long-range military drone in production. Source: News and Sentinel
Escalation of Deep Strikes
Russian Skies Declared Unsafe: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly warned airlines that Russian airspace is now “full of our drones and not safe.” He recently ordered the Ukrainian military to triple its daily long-range strikes into Russian territory.

Targeting Logistics and Infrastructure: Ukraine has launched massive waves of drones targeting the Moscow region, specifically hitting major logistics hubs and warehouses—including those belonging to Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries—as well as oil supply infrastructure to disrupt the Russian economy.

Drone Factory Sabotage: Vladimir Tkachuk, a Russian drone factory director who previously showcased equipment to President Vladimir Putin, was seriously injured in a recent targeted car explosion.

Border and Regional Incidents
NATO Airspace Incursion: A NATO fighter jet was forced to shoot down a drone that crossed into Romanian airspace near the border with Ukraine, marking another incident of spillover from the conflict into neighboring territories.

Crimea Shooting: Inside Russian-held Crimea, a Russian serviceman opened fire on fellow soldiers and civilians, killing four people and wounding four others before being apprehended.

To explore these developments further:

Impact of Ukraine’s deep strikes

Status of Western air defense
What is the current status of Western air defense systems and interceptor missiles being supplied to Ukraine?

As of late 2026, the status of Western air defense systems in Ukraine is defined by a critical bottleneck: while the launcher platforms remain largely intact and operational, the supply of interceptor missiles has severely degraded, fundamentally altering the strategic calculus on the ground.

President Zelenskyy noted in August 2026 that the delivery of air-defense missiles from international partners had dropped threefold compared to 2025.

Here is the strategic breakdown of how this shortage is impacting the battlefield: