RT News - August 22 2026 (09:00 MSK)

Weeks-long protests in Ukraine demanding Vladimir Zelensky reinstate his sacked defence minister come to an abrupt halt, as organisers change their tune when Mikhail Fedorov suddenly calls for elections in the country. Elsewhere in Ukraine, Kiev continues with its forced mobilisation effort across the country, with draft officers clashing with civilians in a bid to replenish manpower on the front. As Ukraine faces an economic debt time-bomb amid the conflict and its industrial base being wiped out, its bonds have soared by 150% over the last few years and the West is stepping in as a lender of last resort.