🔴 Defence minister sacked by Zelensky calls for elections in Ukraine
— @Telegraph Aug 18, 2026
Russians are pulling billions from the country’s banking system ― a record cash outflow amid intensifying Ukrainian drone attacks and rising fear that the Kremlin could start seizing deposits to finance its war. wapo.st/4qpAKEi
— @washingtonpost Aug 18, 2026
BIG: Trump has ordered his top envoys to halt talks with Iran, signaling a major shift in strategy.
The administration is moving away from trying to “hammer Iran ASAP” and toward a longer-term effort to “strangle” Tehran through sustained economic and military pressure.
The goal appears to be increasing pressure over time until Iran is more willing to accept Trump’s terms.
Source: CNN
— @clashreport Aug 18, 2026
BREAKING:
UAE halted all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran.
— @Currentreport1 Aug 18, 2026
Russians have withdrawn $15 billion from banks in the past 2 months, fearing both that the state will confiscate parts of their savings to finance the war and out of fear of a bank run due to the strikes on Wildberries logistics centers
— @visegrad24 Aug 18, 2026
BREAKING: Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for restoring elections even during a prolonged war, saying Ukraine must find a “legal, safe and realistic mechanism” to resume the democratic process.
He argued that “democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia” and that Putin should not determine when Ukrainians can elect their government.
Video
— @clashreport Aug 18, 2026
⚡️Breaking: Fedorov calls for wartime elections, says Putin shouldn’t decide when Ukrainians vote.
Democracy is “part of what we are fighting for today,” Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said. kyivindependent.com/fedorov-…
— @KyivIndependent Aug 18, 2026
Putin Hit With Humiliating New Crisis as Russians Pull Billions From Banks thedailybeast.com/putin-hit-…
— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Aug 18, 2026
🇺🇸 The U.S. Navy has now had two destroyer power failures this year.
The latest was the USS Benfold, which lost power in the South China Sea after its generators ran into trouble.
For four days, the crew dealt with problems with toilets, air conditioning, drinking water and kitchen service before the ship was towed to the Philippines.
Another U.S. Navy ship even had to help feed the crew. Thankfully, nobody was hurt.
The timing isn’t great either. Benfold was sailing with the USS George Washington strike group, which is preparing to head to the Middle East and relieve the Abraham Lincoln.
The Navy is still investigating what went wrong.
When you need ships in two different parts of the world, having them break down definitely doesn’t help.
Source: Fox News / Writer: Daniyal
— @MarioNawfal Aug 18, 2026
Seven U.S. Navy ships have broken down or run out of basic supplies during Trump’s Iran war.
Power failures, food shortages, mold, broken toilets, exhausted crews — and a command structure insisting everything is fine.
This isn’t strength. It’s logistical collapse dressed up as bravado.
USS Higgins — lost power/propulsion, May 2026USS Benfold — 4 days without power, toilets, AC or food, South China Sea
USS Abraham Lincoln — 208+ days at sea, food shortages, mold, suicide risk, sailors attempting to go overboard
USS Tripoli — rationed food, no fresh produce, broken toilets, moldy showers, no soap/toothpaste
USS George HW Bush — food shortages, lack of sanitation, water system failure
USS Gerald R. Ford — sewage problems + laundry room fire, extended deployment twice
USS Boxer — lack of hygiene products reported by Marine families
— @jalle51 Aug 18, 2026