At approximately 13:21, there's speculation of a Russian missile striking a dam situated north of Kiev.
Major Air Assault on Ukraine this Morning Reportedly Damages Hydroelectric Plant Near Kyiv A significant air assault on Ukraine this morning allegedly hit a dam north of Kyiv with a suspected Russian rocket. A video, disseminated by journalist Yaroslav Trofimov of the "Wall Street Journal" among other sources, depicts a portion of the hydroelectric facility on fire. "If the dam collapses, millions of people downstream could perish," Trofimov writes. As of yet, there are no formal reports concerning harm to the structure.
12:57 Zelenskyy Describes Attack as "One of the Heaviest" by Russia Russia employed over 100 missiles and nearly 100 drones in the latest extensive attack, according to Ukrainian reports. "This was one of the heaviest attacks," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in a video message uploaded on Telegram. Concurrently, the Russian Ministry of Defense asserts via Telegram that they have successful targeted "all pertinent infrastructure facilities" in substantial assaults on Ukraine. Zelenskyy explains this offensive as a "combined" attack that included "more than 100 missiles of various types" and approximately 100 Shahed drones of Iranian origin. In turn, the Russian Ministry of Defense discusses a "massive strike" utilizing "high-precision long-range weapons" on "important energy infrastructure facilities."
12:38 Kyiv Urges West to Authorize Deep Territory Assaults Ukraine is appealing to the West to allow the use of weapons for strikes deep into Russian territory. "Such an action would expedite the end of Russian terror," proclaims the chief of staff of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Andriy Yermak, on Telegram.
12:09 Kremlin Speaksman Declares Negotiations with Ukraine Ineffectual Russia considers negotiations with Ukraine over a ceasefire to be virtually futile. The incursion of Ukrainian forces into the Russian border region of Kursk is unacceptable, asserts Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Negotiations regarding a ceasefire have ceased to be relevant, and the concern is no longer valid.
11:41 Munz: "Belarusian Army Lacked Strength" Dictator Lukashenko has mobilized tens of thousands of soldiers at the border with Ukraine, sparking concern within the region. However, according to ntv correspondent Rainer Munz, this is more of a display of force than a genuine threat.
11:25 Intelligence Sources Suggest Russian Sabotage in Geilenkirchen Alarm Intelligence reports of a potential threat from Russian sabotage utilizing a drone led to the temporary increase in the security level at the NATO airbase in Geilenkirchen, close to Aachen. Sources presented a serious indication of preparatory activities for a probable Russian sabotage incident against the NATO base.
11:20 Satellite Images: Russians Struggle to Control Fire at Proletarsk Fuel Depot The fuel depot in Proletarsk, southern Russia, has been burning for over a week as per current satellite images from NASA's FIRMS fire and forest monitoring system. A Ukrainian drone assault ignited the fire in the depot with over 70 individual tanks on August 17th.
8:50 AM - Unconfirmed Reports Indicate Another Morning Attack Unofficial reports suggest that an additional attack occurred this morning. Regional authorities in Rostov have declared a state of emergency in the Proletarsk district. As reported by TASS on Wednesday, 47 firefighters have been injured thus far in the blaze.
10:50 AM - Poland Deploys Fighter Jets The neighboring country to Ukraine, Poland, has responded to the proximity of Russian attacks to its border by dispatching interceptors, according to the news agency PAP. Allied aircraft were also reportedly involved in the operation. In response, the Ukrainian air force reported that the Russian military temporarily deployed 11 long-range bombers, Tu-95s, which carry cruise missiles, in addition to firing hypersonic Kinzhal missiles at Ukraine and attacking the country from the Black Sea.
10:22 AM - Video: Ukrainian Soldier Fires at Russian Cruise Missile with Machine Gun Ukrainian soldiers from an air defense unit in the western region of Transcarpathia purportedly shot at a Russian cruise missile using a machine gun mounted on a truck this morning, as shared by governor Viktor Mykyta on social media. According to his statement, the missile was aimed at the region from neighboring Lviv and was successfully downed by the 650th separate anti-aircraft machine gun battalion. The video's authenticity was confirmed by the RTL/ntv verification team. The type of missile shot down cannot be independently verified, but the Kyiv Independent reported that it was not the machine gun fire but rather an air defense missile from the Ukrainian armed forces that downed the missile. This was maintained by the former press officer for the air force, Yuriy Ignat.
10:03 AM - Russia Attacks 15 Ukrainian Regions - Energy Infrastructure Targeted More than half of Ukraine's regions have been attacked by Russia, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal's early morning report. "Today, 15 regions came under heavy Russian fire. The enemy employed various weapons: drones, missiles, Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. Losses and injuries have been reported." Ukrainian sources indicate that energy infrastructure in four regions was targeted. Authorities in Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Rivne, and Lviv reported that their regions' energy infrastructure was targeted. In some parts of Kyiv, electricity and water supplies were disrupted, as per the Mayor Vitali Klitschko's report.
09:40 ISW Analysis: Russian Troop Shift Towards Kursk from Lesser Prioritized Ukrainian Fronts
The Russian military seems to be relocating troops towards Kursk from sectors with lesser importance on the Ukrainian front, as per analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Commanders of Russian units like 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) reportedly briefed Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend about their operations in Russian territories adjacent to Ukraine. The ISW's situation report suggests that Kursk may be the intended destination. The ISW has observed elements of the 810th Marine Infantry Brigade, 155th Marine Infantry Brigade, and 11th VDV Brigade involved in combat in the Kursk region and has received indications that the Russian military administration has recently transferred elements of the 56th VDV Regiment from the Robotyne area in the western part of the Saporischschja region to the border region. Russian military commanders are reportedly resisting the operational pressure to withdraw their forces from the priority offensive endeavors to capture Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, according to experts.
09:14 First Deaths Reported after Severe Russian Aerial Strikes
At least three fatalities have been reported as a result of Russian air raids, according to Ukrainian authorities. Reports of casualties have been reported from Luzk in the west, Dnipro in the east, and Saporischschja in the south. The mayor of Luzk, Ihor Polischtschuk, confirmed that a multi-family building was struck by "an enemy attack" and resulted in one fatality. The governors of Odessa, Saporischschja, and Kharkiv regions announced explosions in their respective territories via Telegram and advised residents to seek shelter. Earlier, the governor of the Poltava region, Filip Pronin, reported that five individuals sustained injuries following an attack on an industrial facility.
08:53 Tensions Rise as Belarusian Forces Gather Near Ukrainian Border
Ukraine is keeping a close eye on the concentration of Belarusian troops at their border. The current deployment is larger than past instances, and the involvement of Belarusian forces in the conflict could have severe consequences, as detailed by ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald.
08:25 Explosions Shake Several Ukrainian Cities - Kyiv Suffers Power Outage
Several Ukrainian cities experienced explosions following the massive Russian aerial assault (see entry at 07:24). Air raid sirens activated across the nation around 6 a.m. local time. The initial explosions were heard in Kyiv around 8:30 a.m., followed by further explosions. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that "several districts" of the capital faced power outages, and there were also issues with the water supply in certain areas of the city. Explosions were also reported in Kharkiv, Odessa, Vinnytsia, Saporischschja, Kremenchuk, Dnipro, Khmelnytskyi, Kropyvnytskyi, and Kryvyi Rih.
07:50 Moscow Declares Destruction of 20 Ukrainian Drones
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The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that its air defense systems successfully intercepted 20 drones aimed at Russian territories throughout the night, as per their official announcement. Nine drones were reportedly intercepted over the Saratov region, three over Kursk, and two each over Belgorod, Bryansk, and Tula. One drone was detected over the Oryol and Ryazan regions.
07:24 Russia Launches Intense Air Assault on Ukraine
Ukraine is currently experiencing a massive air assault, as reported by various sources. The "Kyiv Post" stated that explosions were heard in Kyiv at the time, as Ukraine faced a large-scale rocket and drone attack from ground, air, and sea. Military expert Nico Lange claimed that Russia was simultaneously launching missiles from ships in the Black Sea and 11 Tu-95 bombers, while utilizing drones and ballistic missiles in their assault. "The Russian air assault on Ukraine is substantial," Lange noted. Explosions have been reported across several cities.
06:41 North Korea: Kim Jong Un Pushes for More Suicide Drones ProductionNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the advancement and manufacturing of more suicide drones as a "key aspect of war preparations," as reported by state news agency KCNA. Suicide drones are unmanned aerial vehicles that are armed with explosives and programmed to crash into enemy targets. Russia frequently employs Iranian drones, such as the Shahed type, in Ukraine. North Korea and Russia's military ties have deepened. The drone test, as reported by KCNA, took place on Saturday amid escalating tensions with neighboring South Korea. Photos released by KCNA show white aircraft with X-shaped wings flying towards tank targets and detonating. According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, the simulation targets resemble South Korean K-2 tanks.
06:34 Ukraine: 1140 Russian Soldiers Reported Killed or Wounded DailyUkrainian military sources claim that 1140 Russian soldiers died or were injured within a 24-hour period. This raises the total number of Russian military personnel who have been "eliminated" since the conflict began to 6,088,200. However, these figures have not been independently confirmed. Furthermore, four Russian tanks, 17 armored vehicles, 47 artillery systems, one multiple rocket launcher, one air defense system, and 39 drones were reportedly destroyed within the same time frame.
06:12 Kyiv Advises Minsk to Avoid "Regrettable Blunders"Ukraine has urged Belarus to remove its large troop contingents and military equipment from its shared border. In a statement issued by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the Belarusian government is urged to abstain from hostile actions and withdraw its troops from the border region. Ukraine warns Belarus against making "regrettable blunders" under pressure from Moscow. Belarus has yet to respond. According to Ukrainian reports, the troops stationed at the border consist of Belarusian special forces and former Wagner mercenaries, armed with tanks, artillery, air defense systems, and engineering equipment located in the Gomel region. The statement also emphasizes that Ukraine has never taken hostile actions against the Belarusian people and does not intend to do so in the future.
05:46 Russian Official Reports House Damage from Drone DebrisIn the Russian region of Saratov, homes have reportedly been damaged due to debris from shot-down Ukrainian drones, according to the regional governor. Both Saratov and Engels have been affected, with all emergency services rushed to the scene. Engels is home to a strategic bomber airbase for Russia.
03:52 Air Defense Warns of Drone Attack on KyivUkrainian air defenses are active in the Kyiv region to protect against Russian drone attacks, according to regional military administration reports. As of now, no damage or casualty reports have been made available.
00:19 Zelensky Condemns "Deliberate" Attack on Reuters TeamIn his evening address, Ukrainian President Zelensky discussed the deadly rocket attack on the Reuters team in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk. A Reuters employee lost their life, while two others were injured. The deceased, 38-year-old British ex-soldier Ryan Evans, had been working with Reuters since 2022, providing security advice for journalists in Ukraine, Israel, and at the 2022 Paris Olympics. Zelensky characterized the attack as "deliberate and calculated," expressing his sympathies to Evans' family and friends. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office announced an investigation into the incident, which occurred at 22:35 local time. Reuters has yet to confirm whether the rocket was fired from Russia or if the hotel was deliberately targeted. Russia has remained silent on the matter.
You can review all previous developments here.
The Commission has expressed concern over the potential consequences if the dam collapses due to the air assault in Ukraine. The Commission is urging for a thorough investigation into the alleged Russian attack on Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety and stability of the region.
