Additional evacuations ongoing in Donetsk region at 21:20
Ukrainian authorities are mandating more departures in response to Russian advances in the Donetsk region. Due to the decline in security conditions, the evacuation zone has expanded, prompting children and their caregivers to leave their homes. The Donetsk Governor, Vadym Filashkin, announced that 27 villages in the Kostyantynivka and Selydove areas will be affected. Previously, evacuations were ordered in the Pokrovsk area due to Russian troop progression.
20:51 The Foreign Office deplores these Russian attacks on UkraineThe Foreign Office denounces the recent Russian assaults on Ukraine. Once more, Putin's Russia is bombarding Ukraine with rockets, targeting essential infrastructure, the FO noted. With widespread attacks on energy infrastructure, they aim to disrupt supplies, they added. German support for Ukraine remains steadfast.
20:23 Zelensky accuses Russia of striking civilian targets with cluster munitionsFollowing the extensive Russian bombardment of Ukraine, President Zelenskyy reported impediments in repairing damaged facilities. "In some locations, the terror state attacked civilian targets with cluster munitions," he stated after meeting with the military leadership. Repairs to the energy sector cannot begin until the cluster munitions are defused.
19:58 Heavy fighting is reported near PokrovskAccording to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, intense battles are taking place near the town of Pokrovsk. Russian forces allegedly attempted to storm Ukrainian positions 38 times in a day near the strategic logistics center. A dozen conflict zones were identified, it said. The situation remains tense.
19:35 Criminal proceedings have been launched against a German man for gold smuggling in RussiaRussian authorities initiated criminal charges against a German national for alleged gold smuggling. The 58-year-old German citizen attempted to illegally transport 13 kilograms of premium gold bars in his motorhome, the Russian customs service explained. A criminal case was opened. The police did not disclose the individual's identity. The inspectors detained the man in the Pskov region, which shares borders with Belarus, Latvia, and Estonia. The gold bars have an estimated value of over 90 million rubles (around 900,000 euros). Customs officials and Russian FSB employees thwarted the illegal import of the gold. The authorities have not revealed the suspect's current location. If found guilty, he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to one million rubles.
19:05 Ukraine reports intercepting 102 missiles in the "biggest air attack"The most recent Russian air attack on Ukraine has been the most significant of the entire conflict, which began in February 2022, according to Ukrainian reports. Russian forces launched more than a hundred missiles and drones, reported the commander of the Ukrainian air force, Mykola Oleschuk, on Telegram. Over half of the missiles (102) were intercepted and destroyed, along with 99 out of 109 drones. This coordinated attack was "the largest air attack."
18:40 Zelensky sends reinforcements to PokrovskUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered additional forces towards Pokrovsk. He has received information about the situation in the region from the military leadership, he stated on Telegram. The Pokrovsk area in eastern Ukraine has been the site of intense fighting since Russian forces pushed forward.
18:10 Macron: Arrest of Telegram CEO "not a political decision"Two days after the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov, France officially acknowledges the situation. "The arrest was carried out within the context of an ongoing legal investigation," French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X. "There was no political motivation behind this decision," he confirmed. The courts have ultimate jurisdiction in this matter.
17:42 Sentencing of a 15-year-old Russian defendant for "terrorism"A 15-year-old student in Russia has been sentenced to jail for expressing his support for Ukraine, as reported. A Russian court in Khabarovsk sentenced him to four and a half years in a juvenile detention center for allegedly participating in a "terrorist organization" and conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, according to Mediazona, a Russian opposition media outlet. The verdict was issued on August 16 and only recently became public. The boy's grandmother told Mediazona that she believes he was encouraged by Russian security services. The boy repeatedly expressed his support for Ukraine to his classmates and on social media. The case involves a video of his throwing Molotov cocktails at an abandoned building with two other teenagers.
17:13 Dam attack assessment: No significant damageThe Russian attack on a dam near Kyiv resulted in no significant damage, as per the governor of the region. Provided no additional attacks or air raid warnings are issued, the road on the dam should be reopened later in the afternoon, Ruslan Kravchenko informed the Ukrainian service of Radio Liberty.
16:12 Wagner Group Affirms: No Mercenaries in Ukrainian ConflictThe Wagner Group asserts that its mercenaries are currently absent from combat alongside the Russian army in Ukraine. They're reportedly only engaged in operations in Belarus and Africa, according to a declaration on Telegram, as reported by "Kyiv Independent." The Wagner mercenaries are not a part of the Russian National Guard or the Russian Ministry of Defense's ranks, the group claims. At present, Wagner is not involved in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the group claims, with any shifts announced in due course.
15:40 Kyiv Experiences Longest Air Raid since War CommencementDue to intense Russian assaults on Ukraine, a 7 hours and 46 minutes air raid warning was activated in Kyiv. This is the second longest air raid in the capital since the initiation of the Russian invasion, according to journalist Denis Trubetskoy. The longest one lasted slightly over 9 minutes longer, Trubetskoy noted on X. Air raid warnings in other Ukrainian regions endured up to 10 hours, as per Anton Gerashchenko, former advisor to the Ukrainian Interior Minister.
15:15 Russian Forces Report Counterstrike in KurskRussian troops allegedly engaged Ukrainian soldiers at more than a dozen locations along the frontline in Kursk, as announced by the Moscow Defense Ministry. Ukrainian counterattacks were also repelled at seven other locations in Kursk. Moreover, Ukrainian forces were subjected to shelling at 16 locations in the Sumy region, which borders Kursk on the Ukrainian side.
14:55 IAEA Chief Prioritizes Inspection of Kursk Nuclear Power PlantIAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is leading a firsthand survey of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in the Russian oblast of the same name, where Ukrainian troops have invaded. He underlined that the safety of nuclear facilities must not be compromised and outlined that the visit will take place on Tuesday. Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers infiltrated Kursk in an unannounced invasion on August 6.
14:47 Fire Engulfs Russia's Largest Oil RefineryA blaze has erupted at Russia's biggest oil refinery in Omsk, as per the operator Gazprom. Gazprom stated that the fire has been contained, and operations are proceeding as usual. Seven personnel were injured in the fire, according to Russian news agency TASS. One victim later passed away, as per Interfax. The initial reports indicated only two injuries.
14:32 Russian Military Claims to Target Western Weapons and AmmunitionThe Russian Defense Ministry declared that Russian troops had attacked gas compressor stations and power transformers in Ukraine using drones and missiles. These facilities provided electricity to the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. Furthermore, western weapons and ammunition stored at two Ukrainian airbases were also targeted.
14:09 Newspaper Reports over 240 Russian Soldiers Captured in KurskUkrainian troops have reportedly captured over 240 Russian soldiers in the Russian region of Kursk since the surprise attack on August 6, as per a report by The Washington Post. The paper analyzed more than 130 photographs and videos, many of which were recorded by Ukrainian soldiers and distributed on social media. The report also incorporated photographs taken by a Post photographer from a prison where captured Russian soldiers are reportedly being detained. The verified images depict at least 247 Russian prisoners, supporting Ukrainian claims of capturing hundreds of Russian soldiers during the invasion. The majority of those apprehended appeared to have surrendered without opposition.
13:43 Unidentified Object Enters Polish Airspace and LandsDuring the Russian assault on Ukraine, an object is said to have penetrated Polish airspace and presumably landed on Polish territory. State news agency PAP reports this, citing the army's operations command. The search for the object, which is believed to be a drone, is still ongoing. "During the massive attack on Ukrainian territory on Monday, an object likely entered Polish territory," General Maciej Klisz, operational commander of the armed forces, informed Polsat News. The Guardian reports, citing an army spokesman, that the object appeared to be a drone.
13:21 Alleged Russian Missile Strikes Dam north of KyivIn the extensive air attack on Ukraine, a dam located north of Kyiv was reportedly hit by a Russian missile on Monday morning, according to Ukrainian media reports. A video shared by, among others, Wall Street Journal journalist Yaroslav Trofimov, portrays a section of the hydroelectric power plant ablaze. "If the dam fails, millions of people downstream could perish," Trofimov penned. There are no official updates on the damage to the structure yet.
12:57 Zelenskyy Describes it as "one of the most severe attacks" by RussiaRussia is alleged to have utilized above 100 missiles and almost 100 drones in its latest massive assault, according to Ukrainian reports. "This was one of the most severe attacks," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video message on Telegram. The Russian Ministry of Defense, meanwhile, asserts on Telegram to have hit "all designated targets" in the massive attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. Zelenskyy explained that it was a "combined" attack involving more than 100 missiles of different types and around 100 Shahed drones of Iranian origin. The Russian Ministry of Defense cites a "massive strike with high-precision long-range weapons" on "important energy infrastructure facilities."
12:09 Russian View: Dialogue with Ukraine over Ceasefire Is Almost FutileRussia views discussions with Ukraine regarding a ceasefire as almost non-existent. The encroachment of Ukrainian forces into Russia's border region of Kursk is unacceptable, stated Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. A response is necessary. No talks about a ceasefire have occurred, and the topic is no longer relevant.
11:41 Munz's Perspective: Belarusian Army's Capabilities Not ExtensiveAuthoritarian leader Lukashenko is assembling tens of thousands of troops at the border with Ukraine, causing alarm. However, according to ntv correspondent Rainer Munz, this is primarily a show of strength rather than a genuine threat.
11:25 Circles' Suggestion: Russian Sabotage Rumors Ahead of Geilenkirchen AlertIntelligence hints at a potential threat from Russian sabotage using a drone led to an increase in security level at the NATO airbase in Geilenkirchen near Aachen, asper German intelligence sources.
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11:20 Satellite Evidence: Russians Struggle to Control Fuel Depot Fire in ProletarskLong after it sparked, the fire at the Proletarsk fuel depot in southern Russia remains uncontrolled, as shown by recent satellite images from NASA's FIRMS fire and forest monitoring system. The blaze, involving more than 70 tanks, was ignited by a Ukrainian drone strike on August 17. Rumors of another attack surfaced on Friday morning. The Proletarsk district's authorities have declared a state of emergency. By Wednesday, TASS reported that 47 firefighters had been injured in the fire.
10:50 Poland's Response: Fighter Jets Scrambled Due to Proximity of Russian AttacksThe morning's intense air attacks had consequences for neighboring Ukraine: the proximity of Russian assaults to the Polish border prompted Poland to dispatch interceptors, as reported by PAP. Allied aircraft reportedly joined in this operation. The Ukrainian air force claimed that at one point, 11 long-range bombers Tu-95, capable of carrying cruise missiles, were deployed by Russia. Moreover, Kinzhal hypersonic missiles were hurled at Ukraine, and the country received attacks from the Black Sea.
10:22 Captured Video: Ukrainian Soldier Fights Off Russian Cruise Missile with Machine GunA video shared on social media by Governor Viktor Mykyta depicts Ukrainian soldiers from an air defense unit firing at a Russian cruise missile with a mounted machine gun in the western region of Transcarpathia. Mykyta claims the missile had been launched from the Lviv region and was brought down by the 650th separate anti-aircraft machine gun battalion. The video's authenticity was confirmed by the RTL/ntv verification team. However, it remains unverified what type of missile was thwarted. According to the "Kyiv Independent," it was not the machine gun that downed the missile, but rather an anti-aircraft missile from the Ukrainian armed forces, as reported by the former spokesman of the air force, Yuriy Ignat.
10:03 Impact on 15 Ukrainian Regions: Russia Launches Coordinated Attacks - Energy Infrastructure Targeted
More than half of Ukraine's regions have been hit by Russia, as per Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. "This morning, a massive Russian attack struck 15 regions. The aggressor used various types of weapons: drones, missiles, hypersonic missiles. There are casualties," Shmyhal shared on Telegram. According to Ukrainian sources, energy infrastructure in four regions was hit. Authorities in Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Rivne, and Lviv reported that energy infrastructure within their regions was under attack. Power and water supplies were disrupted in some areas of the capital Kyiv, as stated by Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
09:40 ISW's Observation: Russia Shifting Troops from Secondary Border Regions to KurskThe Russian military may be continuing to redeploy forces from less critical areas on the Ukrainian front to Kursk, as per analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). According to Russian sources, leaders of the 810th Marine Infantry Brigade, 155th Marine Infantry Brigade, 11th Airborne Brigade (VDV), 56th VDV Regiment (7th VDV Division), and 51st VDV Regiment (106th VDV Division) briefed Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend on combat operations in Russian territories bordering Ukraine. This likely pertains to the Kursk region, stated ISW in its latest report. ISW has detected elements of the 810th Marine Infantry Brigade, 155th Marine Infantry Brigade, and 11th VDV Brigade engaging in operations in the Kursk region and received indications that the Russian military leadership recently redeployed elements of the 56th VDV Regiment from the Robotyne area in western Zaporizhzhia to the border region. The Russian military command appears resistant to operational pressure to withdraw forces from priority offensive efforts to capture Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, claimed the experts.
At least three individuals have shed their lives in Russian airstrikes as per Ukrainian authorities' reports. Deaths have been mentioned in Luzk, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia, located respectively in the west, east, and south of Ukraine. Luzk Mayor Ihor Polischchuk confirmed an attack on a multi-family house resulting in a single fatality. Governors from Odessa, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv regions reported explosions within their domains and advised people to seek shelter. Previously, the governor of Poltava region, Filipp Pronin, disclosed five injuries due to an attack on a local industrial facility.
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08:50 Ukraine Witnesses Build-up of Belarusian Troops: "Belarus Participation Could Overwhelm Front"
Ukraine is keeping a watchful eye on the concentration of Belarusian troops near their shared border. This latest activity is larger than the previous instances, and incorporating Belarus into the conflict could have disastrous consequences, as explained by ntv correspondent Nadja Kriewald.
08:22 Multiple Ukrainian Cities Are Under Attack - Kyiv Suffers Power OutageExplosions are reported in various Ukrainian cities due to the extensive Russian airstrike (refer to 07:24 entry). As per "Kyiv Independent", air raid sirens were heard throughout the nation around 6 AM local time. At approximately 8:30 AM, explosions were heard in Kyiv, followed by more. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko declares power outages in several districts of the capital and water supply concerns on the right-hand side of the city. Explosions have also been reported in Kharkiv, Odessa, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Kremenchuk, Dnipro, Khmelnytskyi, Kropyvnytskyi, and Kryvyi Rih.
07:53 Moscow Claims to Have Shot Down 20 Ukrainian DronesRussia's air defense claims to have shot down 20 drones directed towards Russian territory from Ukraine overnight, as per the Russian Ministry of Defense. Nine were shot down over the Saratov region, three over Kursk, while two each were intercepted over Belgorod, Bryansk, and Tula. One drone was detected over Oryol and Ryaazan.
07:24 Russia Launches Extensive Aerial Assault on UkraineUkraine is being subjected to an extensive attack, according to numerous sources. "Explosions in Kyiv at present as Ukraine faces a massive Russian missile and drone assault from both land, sea, and air," reports the "Kyiv Post" on X. Military expert Nico Lange writes that Russia is firing missiles from ships in the Black Sea and from 11 Tu-95 bombers, and is using drones and ballistic missiles. "The Russian aerial attack on Ukraine is extensive." Explosions are being heard in several cities.
07:07 Chechen Commander Reports Ukrainian Casualties in KurskFighters from the Chechen special forces unit "Achmat" and the 2nd special forces brigade declare the destruction of two armored vehicles, five armored fighting vehicles, and one light tank of French design (AMR) in the Kursk region over the past day, according to the Russian state news agency TASS, citing the commander, Major General Apti Alaudinov. They also claim to have destroyed a unit of automatic grenade launchers, a mortar, and an artillery gun. "Our forces have inflicted substantial losses on the Ukrainian troops," he says. Alaudinov also claims that the advance of Ukrainian troops has been halted. "The enemy is attempting to advance, but without success. We have already started eliminating the enemy in several areas and liberating some settlements. I believe that this will continue each day."
06:41 North Korea: Kim Jong Un Calls for Production of More Kamikaze DronesNorth Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has urged for the development and production of more kamikaze drones as "a vital aspect of war preparations," according to a report by the state news agency KCNA. He made this statement during the testing of domestically developed drones. Kamikaze drones are unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with explosives, guided towards enemy targets. Russia often employs Iranian Shahed drones of this sort in Ukraine. North Korea and Russia have strengthened their military ties. The drone test reportedly took place on Saturday amid escalating tensions with neighboring South Korea. Photos display white, X-winged flying objects heading towards tank targets and exploding. According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, the target objects were modeled after South Korean K-2 tanks.
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06:12 Kyiv Issues Grave Warning to MinskUkraine insists that Belarus removes its substantial troop forces and military apparatus from their shared boundary. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry issues a statement, advising the Belarusian authorities to abstain from hostile acts and withdraw their soldiers from the border area. Ukraine cautions Belarus against making "deadly blunders" under Moscow's influence. Belarus has yet to respond. Reports from Ukraine suggest that the troops along the border comprise Belarusian special operations units and ex-Wagner mercenaries, armed with tanks, artillery, air defense systems, and engineering equipment stationed in the Gomel region along Ukraine's northern frontier. The statement further states that Ukraine has never engaged in hostile activities against the Belarusian population and has no intention of doing so in the future.
05:46 Damage in Saratov Region from Ukrainian Drone WreckageSeveral buildings in the Russian region of Saratov have been harmed due to debris from downed Ukrainian drones, as per the regional governor. Cities like Saratov and Engels, which house a strategic bomber base, have been impacted. All emergency services have been deployed to manage the situation.
03:52 Air Defense Repels Drone Assault on KyivUkrainian air defense systems are operational in the Kyiv district to ward off Russian drone incursions, as reported by the regional military administration. "Enemy drone activity has been detected! Air defense systems in the region are active," the Telegram channel announces. At present, there is no information on potential damages or casualties.
00:19 Zelensky Condemns Targeted Attack on Reuters TeamUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the lethal rocket attack on Reuters journalists in his evening address. A hotel in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk was obliterated by a Russian Iskander rocket, killing one employee and injuring two others, as reported by Reuters. The deceased was identified as British ex-soldier Ryan Evans, 38, who had joined Reuters since 2022, providing advice on security issues in Ukraine, Israel, and at the Paris Olympics. Zelensky labeled the attack as "absolutely targeted, deliberate."; "My sympathies to the family and friends." The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office launched a preliminary investigation into the incident on Telegram. The incident transpired on Saturday at 22:35 local time. Reuters is yet to confirm whether the rocket was fired by Russia or if the hotel was intentionally targeted. No Russian statement has been issued.
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Given the current context of the conflict in Ukraine, here are two sentences that contain the phrase "The European Union" and follow logically from the provided text:
The European Union has continued to condemn the Russian aggression in Ukraine and has imposed sanctions on Russia.The European Union has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including medical supplies and food, to aid displaced civilians.
