On August 2, tensions escalated between the United States and Russia as Donald Trump announced the deployment of two nuclear submarines near Russian shores, responding to nuclear threats from Dmitry Medvedev. Specific locations or the exact types of submarines were not disclosed; this move is widely discussed in Western media as a significant deterrence signal.
Simultaneously, Russia reported a series of attacks using Ukrainian drones. The Russian side claims to have intercepted 112 drones over various regions, including Rostov, Krasnodar, Voronezh, Ryazan, Samara, Penza, Belgorod, Lipetsk, as well as over Crimea and the waters of the Azov and Black Seas. Major damage targeted strategic facilities such as an oil refinery in Novokuybyshevsk, electronic and radio equipment plants in Penza, and an oil refinery in Ryazan. In Crimea and Kerch, drone attacks led to temporary closure of the Crimean Bridge.
In Ukraine, Russian drones struck Kharkiv, injuring 11 people, and Slovyansk, where a drone hit a central hotel and neighboring buildings. Reciprocal strikes between sides continue.
Internationally, Trump’s statements about nuclear deployments elicited diverse responses. Leading Western media debate whether this shows military posturing or represents a genuine tactical move, offering perspectives reminiscent of the Cold War era.
Other discussed topics include new US and NATO mechanisms for military aid to Ukraine, the global oil market, and India's potential shift away from Russian oil. Separately, media attention in the US is focusing on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, with Trump's name appearing in redacted FBI documents.
Overall, the military-political standoff between the US and Russia and shifting dynamics in global energy and politics remain central.
