Russia Turns to 1-3-Man Infiltration Groups as Offensive Stalls Across Multiple Fronts

On 17 August 2026, Russia and Ukraine exchanged deadly drone and missile strikes. Ukraine launched one of its largest aerial attacks on Russia, and a Ukrainian missile attack on Russia's Belgorod region killed six people, according to TASS. CGTN reported that strikes in both countries killed 19. A Russian strike hit Lakshmi Mittal's steel plant in Ukraine, killing two and injuring 13.

Ukraine said it had hit seven of Wildberries' ten biggest warehouses, and a Ukrainian energy company said its facilities were seriously damaged after 13 Russian strikes in a week. Kyiv Post reported that Russia is turning to infiltration groups of one to three men as its offensive stalls on several fronts, and that drone strikes on refineries are causing new fuel shortages in Russia.