U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines "in the appropriate regions" on August 1st in response to recent nuclear threats made by Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev. Trump stated the submarines were positioned "just in case" Medvedev's "foolish and inflammatory statements" escalate, according to a statement released August 1st. Medvedev had alluded to Russia's "Dead Hand" nuclear system in response to perceived U.S. posturing. Separately, the United States and NATO are developing a new $10 billion funding mechanism to supply Ukraine with weapons, utilizing funds from European allies. Ukraine has submitted priority lists requesting approximately $500 million in arms, with NATO planning to split the costs. This initiative aims to bypass slow U.S. arms sale procedures, allowing for faster replenishment of donated weapons through a NATO-managed fund, as reported by three sources familiar with the matter. On the ground, footage shows the destruction of a bridge over the Tsata River in Russia's Bryansk region by Ukrainian forces, according to DroneBomber. The bridge provided a direct route to the Ukrainian border. Additionally, a major explosion has halted the Central Asia – Center gas pipeline in Russia’s Volgograd region, a pipeline crucial for supplying energy to key Russian military industry facilities, as reported by nexta_tv. Ukrainian forces also reportedly struck a building with Russian soldiers and ammunition using a GBU-62 JDAM-ER bomb in Malynivka, Donetsk Oblast. Russian invasion forces have captured Zvirove and Leontovychi and entered Pokrovsk from the southwest, with approximately 1% of the city now under Russian control, according to NewsMap. Ukraine's 1st Territorial Defense Brigade is credited with the Tsata River bridge destruction. General Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy, is expected to travel to Ukraine in the coming days, according to sources cited by Kyiv Post. Amidst these developments, concerns are rising about Russia's internal policies. One report suggests Russian President Vladimir Putin is transforming Russia into a Soviet-style police state to manage potential anti-war sentiment and prepare for future conflict, by consolidating control over information and adapting legal regimes for increased repression. Ukrainian intelligence has also noted preparations for UAV launches from the Lygubulova and Satalovo aerodromes. Pastor Mark Burns, identified as Donald Trump’s spiritual advisor, expressed support for Ukraine following the submarine deployment announcement. Ukrainian forces reportedly liberated the settlement of "Zelenyi Gay" in Donetsk Region on July 27th, after Russian forces declared its capture on July 26th. A Russian serviceman described an incident where an F-1 grenade was used to destroy a grocery store in Svatove, Luhansk region, due to the staff's lack of support for the "Russian world."
