Ukraine might soon trade its long-range drones for something with a bit more oomph. Mykhailo Fedorov, the former Ukrainian defence minister, reckons Kyiv could be lobbing domestically made ballistic missiles at Russia within three to six months. Because why settle for cruise missiles when you can have the ballistic kind that are 'far harder' to shoot down? Fedorov told CBS News, 'We need to defeat Russia in every technological cycle,' which sounds like a tech startup mantra, but with more artillery. Ukraine's defence manufacturer Fire Point already did a launch test in June, so they're not just talking. Fedorov, who was a key driver of Ukraine's drone programme before getting controversially fired in July, warns that Russia is also advancing rapidly. Because of course they are.

Meanwhile, Ukraine launched one of its biggest drone attacks since the war began, setting a Wildberries warehouse near Moscow on fire and killing at least six people, according to Russian authorities. Russia claims it shot down 1,478 Ukrainian drones in 24 hours - a new record, if true. Moscow's regional governor Andrey Vorobyov called it 'one of the most massive drone attacks in recent memory,' which is saying something. Ukraine also claims it hit a missile fuel production facility in Russia's Rostov region, which makes solid rocket propellant for various missile systems. Because nothing says 'peace' like blowing up a propellant plant.

In other airborne news, a Spanish F-18 shot down a drone that wandered into Romanian airspace from Moldova, with debris landing in an unpopulated area near the border. NATO is on it, because drones keep crossing into eastern European member states. It's like they're not respecting airspace boundaries anymore. Rude.

Back in Ukraine, Russian drones and missiles killed two people and wounded 14 at ArcelorMittal's steel plant in Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy's hometown. The plant partially halted operations. Another attack killed one more person in the city, and two in the Zaporizhzhia region. Kyiv's beloved outdoor book market at Pochaina got hit, burning down all four stalls of bookseller Dmytro Semenukha, who lamented, 'There used to be a store. And books, and flags of all the countries. Tons of everything. And that's it.' Because even books aren't safe from ballistic missiles.

Zelenskyy took to social media to note that wherever Russians can reach with ballistic missiles, they strike civilian infrastructure. In the past week, Ukrainian cities have endured 'more than 1,550 attack drones, nearly 1,560 guided aerial bombs, and 62 missiles.' He's renewing his plea for more air defence, which seems reasonable, given the circumstances.