At 12:23, Kiev's Parliament initiates measures to prohibit a church aligned with Russia.
Over 500 firefighters are persistently battling a substantial blaze at an oil depot situated in the southern Russian region of Rostov. This catastrophe was triggered by a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) strike. The fire has spread to approximately 10,000 square meters, with multiple diesel tanks engulfed in flames, as per Valery Gornitsky, the mayor of Proletarsk, who communicated this information to the news agency TASS. No risk of explosion, no danger to civilians, and no evacuations are imminent, according to Gornitsky. Four firefighting aircraft and around 520 firefighters are on-site. The aviation support is essential due to the intense heat, which prevents vehicles from approaching the flames, as Gornitsky explained further. At least 41 firefighters have sustained injuries, with 18 of them requiring hospitalization.
On a separate note, an industrial facility and a fuel storage tank were hit during Russia's recent attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure within the Ternopil region. Authorities have reported this incident. Ukrainian television broadcasted massive plumes of black smoke over Ternopil, prompting local authorities to recommend that residents stay indoors. Around 90 firefighters are engaged in extinguishing the blaze, with the situation reportedly under control, according to the Ternopil regional administration.
A former Russian diplomat, Boris Bondarev, published a guest commentary on ntv.de, criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin's action as cowardly. Bondarev stated that Putin's supposed capability to overcome any opponent has been compromised since the commencement of the invasion of Ukraine. The expected swift takeover never materialized, and Moscow appeared taken aback and overwhelmed by the Ukrainian attack on the Russian region of Kursk. Bondarev described Putin's behavior as that of a cowardly imposter under pressure, incapable of responding effectively to serious threats. The ex-diplomat also condemned Western politicians for their stance on preventing the use of supplied weapons on Russian territory by Ukraine, labeling it insufficient to confront Putin. Bondarev advocated for a forceful approach instead, dismissing Western fears of escalation as unjustified.
In the previous 24 hours, five civilians have lost their lives, and at least 22 others were injured, which includes a child, due to Russian attacks in Ukraine, according to regional authorities, as reported by "Kyiv Independent".
Ukraine targeted a significant fuel depot located in Proletarsk, in southern Russia, with drones at 9:00 AM. Despite ongoing efforts, the fire continues to burn unabated. Although extensive firefighter support has been provided, over 40 firefighters have sustained injuries during this incident, as reported by regional authorities.
Russia's armed forces have suffered heavy losses, according to official Kyiv figures. In a single day, 1,330 Russian soldiers have either been killed or rendered incapable of combat. Since the start of the conflict in February 2022, the total number of Russian soldiers reportedly 'eliminated' stands at 601,800. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has also reported the loss of 5 additional tanks (8,518 in total) since the inception of the Russian invasion. Ukraine claims to have destroyed or seized over 16,500 armored vehicles and over 13,800 drones. These statistics cannot be independently verified, as Moscow refrains from disclosing information regarding its losses in Ukraine.
Joe Biden has defended Ukraine's fight for independence, stating that no president should succumb to dictators. He emphasized that Putin had anticipated capturing Kyiv within three days, but three years later, Ukraine remains free. Biden contrasted his stance on NATO support and advocacy for a independent Ukraine with former President Donald Trump's pro-Putin sentiments.
Russia resorted to bombarding Ukraine with air strikes during the night, as per the Ukrainian military, which reported nine regions in the country's center, north, and south being targeted. Nine missiles and 25 drones were downed, according to the Ukrainian air force, which issued an update on Telegram. This marked the fifth missile attack on Kyiv in August, with 41 air raid alerts taking place throughout the month. The military reported repelling a drone attack on Kyiv the previous day.
A military administration in Kyiv declared that they successfully repelled a Russian rocket attack on the city, reporting no collateral damage as of yet.
This morning, it's reported that Russian troops attacked Kyiv from the north once more. The City's Military Administration announced this via Telegram. Their preliminary info suggests that the enemies went after Kyiv's capital from the north, possibly utilizing ballistic missiles such as the Iskander. This marks the fifth rocket attack on Kyiv this month! The message states. The rockets were supposedly neutralized by the city's air defense forces at its outskirts. Currently, there aren't any reported damages or losses in Kyiv.
07:38 Belarus: Lukashenko Sends Extra Troops and Aircraft to Ukraine Border
Belarus has deployed extra air defense troops and aircraft to its border with Ukraine, as reported by Belarusian General Major Andrei Lukyanovich, commander of the Belarusian air defense forces, and the Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Independent". This statement comes soon after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko declared that he had sent a third of the country's army to the border this summer. Lukashenko claimed that the troop reinforcement along the border was due to a misunderstanding between Belarus and Ukraine. Lukyanovich mentioned on national television that the Belarusian military had deployed planes, anti-aircraft missiles, and radio-technical units to the border. Kyiv has not confirmed Lukyanovich's claims regarding additional Belarusian troops and weapons at the border. The Ukrainian state border service reported over a week ago that there were no signs of troop reinforcement along the Belarusian border despite Lukashenko's order.
07:24 ISW: Russia Moves 5,000 Troops to Kursk Oblast
Due to the Ukrainian forces' operation in the Kursk region, Russia is forced to relocate troops from other frontline sections there. This is according to the report by the U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW). "Russian troops have transferred additional troops to the Kursk Oblast since the initial phase of the Ukrainian advance and have likely deployed a total of more than 5,000 soldiers to the region," analysts say.
06:54 Zelensky: Second Peace Summit in Ukraine Must Take Place Before Year's End
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged his country's diplomats to ensure that the second Peace Summit in Ukraine takes place this year. The head of state spoke at a meeting of the heads of foreign diplomatic missions in Ukraine on the topic of "War Diplomacy: Resilience, Weapons, Victory," as reported by the state news agency Ukrinform, citing the Presidential Office. "The inaugural summit, in my opinion, was an extraordinary success for Ukraine. I am grateful to everyone who helped make our summit happen. Now we are preparing for the second Peace Summit and must ensure that it takes place this year," Zelensky said. "We must do everything to achieve this. We must expand the circle of support for the communique of the first summit."
06:22 Ukraine: Another Russian Air Strike on Kyiv
Russia persists in launching nightly attacks on the capital Kyiv, according to Ukrainian reports. Air defense units were mobilized in the early hours to repel another Russian air strike on Kyiv, the Military Administration of the Ukrainian capital announced via Telegram. Eyewitnesses reported hearing explosions that sounded like the use of air defense systems.
05:11 Kyiv Reports Multiple Drone Strikes Far from the Front
Multiple drone strikes have happened overnight in several Ukrainian regions that are far from the front. According to air defense, the areas of Sumy, Poltava, Kherson, and Mykolaiv were targeted. Air defense was also active near the capital Kyiv. Local authorities urged residents to seek shelter. No damages have been reported so far.
02:23 USA Reaffirms Support for Kyiv - Discussion on Kursk Offensive
Despite the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Russian region of Kursk, the USA remains committed to supporting Kyiv. US President Joe Biden has "made it crystal clear that we will continue to support Ukraine and stand by them for as long as necessary," said a spokesperson for the US Department of Defense. The US continues to prioritize military aid to Kyiv. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reassured his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov of continued US support in a phone call, the spokesperson added. During the conversation, Austin learned more about what Ukraine aims to achieve with the counteroffensive.
01:07 Germany Delivers Another Iris-T System
Germany has shipped another weapons package to Ukraine. According to the Ministry of Defense's overview page, the latest deliveries include a third Iris-T SLS air defense system, several thousand artillery shells, drones, a Bergepanzer 2, and hundreds of rifles with matching ammunition.
00:20 Zelenskyy: Largest Success in Capturing Russian Soldiers
Ukraine's offensive in the Russian region of Kursk is the largest victory in capturing Russian soldiers since the war began, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Speaking to Ukrainian diplomats, he said these soldiers will later be exchanged for captured Ukrainians. So far, estimates show that Russia has captured more Ukrainians than the reverse.
22:21 Chechen Commander: Fallen Kursk Fighters "Go to Paradise"
A Chechen commander named Apti Alaudinow, leader of the Russian-fighting Achmat Regiment from Chechnya, has encouraged Russian conscripts to join the front, according to the "Kyiv Independent" newspaper. Those who fall in the Kursk region, he said, "will go to paradise."
21:58 Zelenskyy: Infiltration Nullifies Russia's Boundary ConceptAs an infiltration into Russia was considered implausible, it remained hidden, stated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to the "Pravda" newspaper. Merely a few months prior, multiple nations cautioned that this infiltration would "overstep Russia's most critical boundary." Now, Zelenskyy mentioned, "Russia's boundary concept concept has crumbled somewhere around Sushcha."
21:38 Lithuania Initiates Construction of German Defense BaseLithuania has initiated the construction of a military base for German armed forces. By the end of 2027, the facility will accommodate up to 4,000 German soldiers. This will mark the first long-term overseas deployment of the Bundeswehr since World War II. Germany agreed to station troops in the NATO and EU member state bordering Russia last year. Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis predicts construction expenses to surpass one billion euros.
21:15 Czech President: NATO Admission Possible for Partially Controlled UkraineCzech President Petr Pavel has theoretically proposed that Ukraine could join NATO even if portions of its territory remain under control. He anticipates that Ukraine could negotiate peace with Russia in the upcoming years, as he conveyed to the news site "Novinky". Such an agreement could mean that Russia maintains control over a part of Ukrainian territory without "democratic states" having to recognize the border modification. This temporal boundary could potentially let "us accept Ukraine into NATO in the territory it commands at that point in time," Pavel explained. Germany also joined NATO in 1955 while still occupied by the Soviet Union.
20:57 Ukrainian Troops Approach 12 Kilometers from Russian Pontoon BridgeUkrainian troops have supposedly overtaken the town of Wyschnewka in the Russian district of Kursk, according to battle observers on X. This places them around 12 kilometers from the floating bridge across the Seim River, which presently serves as the Russian army's only option for organizing supplies or retreating.
20:36 Pokrovsk Administration's OptimismThe military administration of the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk is confronting an uncertain future as Russian troops push forward: "They are advancing towards Pokrovsk's outskirts. We can see this - it's not a secret," said the head of the information department there to the "Washington Post". "Perhaps the situation there will transform somehow - we hope that the enemy will halt at some of the approaches to Pokrovsk, and our troops will repel them," she said. If the city falls, it would become the largest population center captured by the Russians since Bachmut in May 2023.
Catch up on all previous events [here].
The escalating tension between Russia and Ukraine has led to an increase in cyber warfare. For instance, subsequent to the oil depot fire in Proletarsk, Ukrainian authorities accused Russia of launching a cyber attack on the power grid in Ukraine, causing widespread outages.
The United States and its allies have been closely monitoring this developments, as cyber warfare has become a significant threat in modern conflicts, often preceding or accompanying traditional warfare tactics.
