Drone War on Russia’s “Amazon”: Ukrainian drones hit Wildberries warehouses in Kotovsk (Tambov) and Elektrostal (Moscow region), killing seven night-shift workers (death toll later reported at eight) and injuring dozens; officials also cited dozens of drones shot down and a separate fire at an oil storage site near Noginsk. Mobilization Watch: Ukraine’s disinformation chief claims Russia is preparing a 500,000-person mobilization this fall, with some troops sent to plug eastern gaps immediately and others trained for a possible new front. Fuel and Social Strain: Reports describe worsening petrol shortages and long queues across regions, with officials downplaying the crisis while analysts link it to rising repression and declining Putin popularity ahead of September State Duma elections. Legal Crackdown: A Chegem district resident was fined for a Ukraine-support slogan under Russia’s “discrediting the armed forces” administrative law, underscoring tightening control over dissent. US-Russia Sanctions Push: A US Senate bill backed by 60+ lawmakers proposes 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil (including India and China), aiming to cut war revenue while exempting some European gas importers. Russia-Azerbaijan Reset: Lavrov and Bayramov in Moscow declared normalization and signed a 2026–2027 consultations plan, despite Azerbaijan’s earlier pro-Ukraine signals. Election Interference Row: Trump’s declassified claims about foreign election meddling—naming China, Russia, Iran, and others—spark renewed political debate and skepticism in the US.