The Independent World
· collected 2026-08-26 · by Maira Butt,Arpan Rai and James C. Reynolds
The CIA director John Ratcliffe made a secret visit to Moscow last week and the US requested Ukraine not to strike major Russian cities during his visit. The request covered Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but was only revealed after Ratcliffe left Russia on Tuesday. During this time, Ukraine resumed strikes on Russia early on Wednesday, with Russia downing at least 426 drones overnight. The purpose of Ratcliffe's visit remains unclear, but it is the first known trip to Moscow by a US spy chief since November 2021.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
John Ratcliffe, the CIA Director, made a secretive trip to Moscow earlier this week, where he held talks with Russian intelligence officials but did not meet with President Vladimir Putin. The purpose of his visit was to warn Russia not to attack NATO member states, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
During his meetings in Moscow, Ratcliffe also brought up Iran, warning that there would be additional sanctions if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen to shipping traffic. The US had requested that Ukraine hold off on strikes against Russia during Ratcliffe's visit.
The trip was first reported by CBS News, and later confirmed by President Donald Trump in an interview with Glenn Beck. However, Trump called the visit "semi-routine" and downplayed its significance.
This comes amid US intelligence assessments that Russia may try to test NATO's resolve with a limited assault on an allied country. Ratcliffe's warning to Russia was seen as a key aspect of his trip to Moscow.
Written for “CIA Director's Secret Visit to Moscow” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 7 other(s) covering the same event.
Ukraine heeded a special request from the Donald Trump administration not to attack major Russian cities during a visit by CIA director John Ratcliffe.
asserted
Ukraine → heed → Ratcliffe
The US contacted Kyiv last week to request that it not strike Moscow, St Petersburg and a stretch of northern Russia while a plane carrying the senior US official was flying in and out of the Russian capital, sources told Reuters.
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sources → contact → Reuters
The request covered Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and was only revealed hours after Ratcliffe left Russia late on Tuesday.
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Ratcliffe → cover → Tuesday
Subsequently, a large US military aircraft was confirmed to have travelled to Russia from the US via Latvia on Tuesday, flight tracking data confirmed.
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data → confirm → Tuesday
It was the first known trip to Moscow by a US spy chief since his predecessor, William Burns, held talks with Vladimir Putin in November 2021.
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predecessor → know → November
Ukraine resumed strikes on Russia early on Wednesday after Ratcliffe's departure, with Russia saying it downed at least 426 drones overnight.
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it → resume → drones
Burnham warned Russia plotting retaliation against Britain over support for Ukraine - report
Andy Burnham was reportedly warned that Russia is plotting retaliation against Britain for its continued support for Ukraine.
uncertain
Russia → warn → Ukraine
Security experts were said to have told the prime minister to be ready for a ‘direct response’, according to the Daily Mail.
uncertain
experts → say → Mail
Mr Burnham travelled to Kyiv on Monday for his first overseas trip since taking office last month and said London and Paris would provide long-range missile technology to Ukraine.
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London → travel → Ukraine
A unnamed senior security source told the Mail: “An attack on the UK’s defence and security infrastructure is inevitable, based on our high profile support for Ukraine.
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attack → tell → Ukraine
“Ourselves and the French are front and centre, and Burnham's visit to Kyiv and his forthright stance will have been noticed at the Kremlin,” they assessed.
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they → notice → Kremlin
Release of Marine veteran from Russian custody turns focus to other detainees with health concerns
Robert Gilman’s release from Russian custody this month heralded a long-awaited homecoming for the Marine veteran after more than four years behind bars.
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release → turn → bars
But as Harold Jezler followed the media coverage from the United States, he couldn’t help but notice Gilman’s gaunt and sickly appearance and think of the implications for his wife, Olga, who has been detained in Russia since 2022 and faces her own health problems.
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who → follow → problems
“You just look at the pictures and the guy is not in good shape.
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guy → look → shape
It’s concerning for me and for all the families, I would imagine," Jezler said in an interview with The Associated Press.
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Jezler → ’ → Press
"Is this what it takes for the government to really make a move and prioritize this — that the person is basically in dire straits?
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person → take → straits
It was a very bittersweet thing to see that.
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It → see → that
Russia downs 426 drones overnight, says Russian media citing defence ministry
Russia downed 426 drones overnight, Russian news agencies quoted the defence ministry as saying.
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agencies → down → ministry
The figure includes Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine.
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figure → include → Ukraine
Russia says it struck five vessels in Ukraine's Black Sea ports
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it → say → ports
The Russian defence ministry said that its forces had struck three cargo vessels carrying supplies for the Ukrainian military and a tanker at the Black Sea port of Pivdennyi yesterday.
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forces → say → Pivdennyi
The ministry also said it had hit another cargo vessel in the nearby port of Odesa, as well as port infrastructure in Pivdennyi and Odesa and fuel storage facilities at the port of Chornomorsk.
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it → say → Chornomorsk
Wildberries warehouse in Russia's Tambov region on fire after drone attack
A warehouse of Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries in Russia's Tambov region caught fire after a drone attack, local governor Evgeniy Pervyshov said on the Telegram messaging app.
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Pervyshov → catch → app
Pervyshov said one person was injured in the incident.
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person → say → incident
Ex-US special envoy for Ukraine calls for mobilisation of women
Ukraine should mobilise women in its fight against Russia as they “fight no worse than men,” a former US special envoy has urged.
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envoy → call → men
Keith Kellogg told the Naspravdi MAX YouTube channel: “Do I believe women should be mobilised into the army?
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women → tell → army
“My answer is yes, because they fight no worse than men.”
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they → fight → men
This comes just days after former defence minister Oleksii Reznikov also said that the government should consider a universal conscription model.
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government → come → model
Pointing to Israel as an example where women serve alongside men, he said: “That immediately would double our mobilisation resource.
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That → point → resource
“Then you can clearly see which military positions and specialties can easily be filled by women - they don’t have to go to the battlefield.
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they → see → battlefield
“They fill many rear positions, logistics and support, and men can be moved from rear positions closer to the front.
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men → fill → front
“The question is whether society is ready to say, like Israel, that we can survive only if everyone accepts that they must defend Ukraine.”
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they → say → Ukraine
Burnham says he is planning US trip in September to lobby for Ukraine’s defence
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he is planning on travelling to the US in September to join European leaders in lobbying President Donald Trump on support for Ukraine’s defence.
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he → say → defence
In an interview with Bloomberg, Mr Burnham said he was “looking forward to going to New York” next month, which is when the UN General Assembly will meet.
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Assembly → say → York
He said details of the trip are not yet “fully confirmed” but it is “likely” to go ahead.
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it → say → trip
The trip would mark Mr Burnham’s first US visit since becoming Prime Minister in July.
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trip → mark → July
Two employees of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant injured in drone attack
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employees → injure → attack
At least two employees at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant were injured in a Ukrainian drone attack, the plant's Russian-installed management said.
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management → control → attack
The strike occurred near the plant's hydraulic structures and wounded two maintenance and construction workers.
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strike → occur → workers
Management did not provide details on any damage caused by the attack.
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Management → provide → attack
…and 7 more, not listed.
