For nearly two consecutive days now, Russian military forces have made no substantial advancements towards Pokrovsk, as stated by President Zelensky at 19:24.
As per Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian forces in the Donetsk area haven't made any significant progress in the previous 2 days. However, the situation in Pokrovsk on the eastern front is still "difficult," Zelenskyy stated, citing Chief Commander Oleksandr Syrsky, as reported by the Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Independent." Intense fighting has been continuous around Pokrovsk for several months, as it also serves as a crucial logistics base for Ukrainian forces. Russian troops had recently made swift advances (see entry at 17:22).
19:03 IAEA Chief Set to Visit Kyiv and Occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear PlantThe Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is planning to revisit Kyiv the next day. He will also pay a visit to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the IAEA disclosed in Vienna. The nuclear power plant, which Russia seized control of during its invasion around two and a half years ago, has been a recurring target of attacks and acts of sabotage. Both Russia and Ukraine blame each other for these incidents. The situation escalated significantly in mid-August, according to IAEA inspectors. An explosion close to the safety zone was assessed by IAEA experts on site to have been caused by a drone carrying explosives, the IAEA stated.**
18:31 Alleged Footage of Flamethrower Drone UseDuring the Ukraine conflict, there have been numerous rumors about the utilization of diverse weapons, including flamethrower drones. Now, videos purportedly displaying such a weapon have surfaced, showing it engulfing Russian military positions and a vast section of forest in flames.**
18:09 Dutch Prime Minister Confirms Multi-Million Euro Aid Package for UkraineThe fresh Dutch Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, announced a new aid package for Ukraine. During an unexpected visit to the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The new package amounts to over 200 million euros. This is Schoof's first visit to Ukraine since his assumption of office in early July, replacing Mark Rutte, who is slated to become the next NATO Secretary General in October. "Without exaggeration, the Netherlands has aided Ukraine in saving countless lives. Our relationship is stronger than ever. We stand shoulder to shoulder in pursuit of a fair and lasting peace," said Zelenskyy.**
17:47 Federal Government Maintains Control Over PCK Refinery in SchwedtThe PCK oil refinery in Schwedt will remain under federal control temporarily. According to information from the German Press Agency, the German government intends to extend the trusteeship administration over the majority shares of the Russian state corporation Rosneft in the PCK refinery once again. If not extended, the trusteeship administration would expire on September 10. The shares were placed under trusteeship administration by the federal government since September 2022. The German government halted importation of Russian oil due to Russia's attack on Ukraine. PCK switched to alternative supply sources at the beginning of 2023. Alongside Schwedt, two other facilities are affected. Rosneft holds 54 percent of the shares in the PCK refinery in northeastern Brandenburg.**
17:22 Russian Forces Register Strongest Land Gains in Ukraine Since October 2022 - 15 Square Kilometers per DayThe Russian army has recorded more significant gains in August than any previous month since October 2022, based on calculations derived from data provided by the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The Russian army took control of 477 square kilometers in Ukraine last month, the largest Russian land gain since October 2022, amounting to over 15 square kilometers per day in August. Russia reported these land gains primarily in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. As of last night, the Russian army was just 7 kilometers away from the strategically significant city of Pokrovsk, which serves as a crucial logistics base.**
16:56 Putin Arrives in Mongolia for Official VisitRussian President Vladimir Putin has touched down in Mongolia for an official visit. On Tuesday, he will engage in talks with Mongolian President Uchnaagiin Khurelsukh. The two will attend a commemoration ceremony on Wednesday honoring the triumph of Soviet and Mongolian troops over the Japanese army in 1939. Thousands of soldiers lost their lives in these battles. For Russian President Putin, this is his first visit to a country that is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since the court issued an arrest warrant against him nearly 18 months ago for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Ukraine has urged Mongolia to detain Putin and hand him over to the court in The Hague. A Putin spokesperson stated last week that the Kremlin is not apprehensive about Putin's arrest in Mongolia.**
16:40 Russian Military Chief Under Bribe Allegations - Probe Into Over a Dozen Military OfficersInvestigations have commenced against another prominent figure in the Russian military. As per the Russian Investigative Committee's statement on Telegram, General Valery Mumindzhanov is accused of accepting a substantial bribe. This act is punishable by up to 15 years in prison in Russia. Mumindzhanov, as deputy commander of the Leningrad military district, has also served in the defense ministry. The investigation suggests that he accepted a bribe worth over 20 million rubles (approximately 202,000 euros), in relation to uniform supply contracts.Since April, at least ten military officials, including generals and high-ranking defense ministry personnel in Moscow, have been under scrutiny by Russian law enforcement agencies for corruption or fraud. Some analysts speculate that a purge campaign might be underway.
16:25 Zelensky Affirms Kursk Operation Progress - As ExpectedThe operation in Kursk, a Russian region, is progressing as planned, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He expressed this during his visit to Zaporizhzhia, as reported by a correspondent from the state news agency Ukrinform. "The Kursk operation is meeting its objectives and is progressing according to plan," Zelensky stated. "Regarding the challenges in Pokrovsk and Torez's directions, we believe that the Kursk operation could also impact these areas," the Ukrainian president added. The combat in Kursk could decrease the intensity of Russian forces' attacks in Pokrovsk and Torez, although it's tough at the moment. He further mentioned that the most combat-ready Russian brigades have been stationed in these front lines since the beginning.
15:52 Villages at Risk Due to Grass Fires in Occupied Luhansk - Firefighters AWOL?Residents in occupied Luhansk are currently contending with not only the war but also the fury of Mother Nature: grass fires are menacing the region. Social media is abuzz with complaints that firefighters are nowhere to be found to extinguish the flames.
15:16 Ukraine to Obtain Patriot System from Romania: Government Endorses BillThe Romanian government has given the green light to a bill draft that authorizes the transfer of a Patriot air defense system to Ukraine. The document will now move to the final vote in parliament, reports Reuters. According to the news agency, Romania agreed last June to donate one of its two operational Patriot systems to Ukraine, on the condition that allies replace it with a similar air defense system.
14:53 Mobilization in Ukraine: Petition Requests Age Limit Reduction to 50A petition is urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to lower the age limit for mobilization to 50. More than 25,000 people have signed the petition so far, according to the Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Independent". The current age limit for mobilization in Ukraine is 60. According to Ukrainian law, an electronic petition to the president must acquire at least 25,000 signatures within three months to be considered. There are 34 days remaining to collect signatures.
14:34 Injuries Reported in Russian Border Region of Belgorod On account of Ukrainian AttacksEleven individuals, including two children, sustained injuries in Ukrainian attacks on the Russian region of Belgorod and its capital city, as reported by Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. A kindergarten is said to have been destroyed during these attacks. Gladkov shared images of a collapsed kindergarten building and other wreckage and damaged structures in the area on social media. Local authorities have decided to shut down several schools and kindergartens in the region temporarily following the attacks. In various Ukrainian and Russian regions, September 2 marks the first day of school after summer vacations.
14:10 Mosque in Kyiv Damaged in Russian Missile AttackA mosque and an affiliated Islamic cultural center were severely damaged during Russian missile strikes on Kyiv throughout the night (see entries 05:39, 06:20, and 09:29). In a post on his platform, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted that Russia has no regard for spiritual or human values and holds no respect for any religion or belief. "It continues its campaign of destruction against the Ukrainian people and aims to annihilate all our communities and even sacred places of worship," Zelensky added. The local community's chief mufti, Vadym Dashevski, informed Reuters that the mosque was targeted by a cowardly attack.
13:39 Ukraine Launches Massive Drone Assault on Moscow and Other TargetsUkraine launched a significant drone assault on targets within and near Moscow, with an explosion documented just 16 kilometers from the Kremlin. Two additional power plants were also affected. Russian sources claim that over 150 Ukrainian drones were intercepted.
Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski believes Poland has a responsibility to shoot down incoming Russian drones and other aerial objects originating from Ukraine before they enter Polish airspace. The centrist politician expressed this viewpoint to the Financial Times (FT), contradicting NATO's stance that the risk of escalating the conflict through direct confrontation with Russian forces is excessive. NATO has thus far refused to consider shooting down Russian drones and missiles over Ukraine, as well as Ukraine's request for a no-fly zone within its borders. Sikorski told the FT, "In my opinion, if hostile aerial objects are approaching our airspace, this would be a justified act of self-defense. Because as soon as they enter, the risk significantly increases that someone will be injured by debris."
12:12 Munz: Russia's reaction to AfD and BSW's electoral victories
The election results in Thuringia and Saxony are a topic of interest in Russia as well. ntv reporter Rainer Munz covers reactions to the electoral successes of AfD and BSW and discusses how Moscow manages what could be the most significant drone attack on the Russian capital ever.
11:40 Putin admires Russia's territorial gains
Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised the speed of his troops in capturing new territories in neighboring Ukraine. He stated that Ukraine tried to halt the Russian troops' advance in the Donbass region using a counteroffensive in the Kursk region, but to no avail. "We're not talking about moving forward 200 or 300 meters," Putin told Russian news agencies. "We're talking about several square kilometers. We haven't seen this pace of the offensive in the Donbass for a long time." Putin visited the Siberian republic of Tuva while en route to Mongolia to participate in a lesson on the new topic "Conversations about the Essential" in a school. The propaganda-infused lesson aims to familiarize children with the Kremlin's political agenda. For several years, Putin has often assumed the role of a teacher on the first day of school, reiterating the claim that the war he authorized serves the defense of his own country.
11:07 Ukraine reports intercepting 22 missiles and 20 drones
Ukraine's air force claims to have intercepted 22 out of 35 missiles and destroyed 20 out of 23 Russian attack drones. The interceptions took place over Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Poltava, Mykolaiv, and Saporizhzhia.
10:36 Video shows Russian missile strike on Kharkiv
Russia has targeted Kharkiv with missile attacks for several days. According to Ukrainian sources, at least ten missiles were fired at the city on Sunday, striking a shopping and entertainment center. Many people were injured.
10:01 Injury count rises in Russian attack on Sumy
After a Russian missile strike on the Sumy city administration in northeastern Ukraine, the number of injured has increased. According to the latest figures from the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, 18 people were injured, including 6 children. The ministry shared this information via Telegram. Previously (see entry 03:34), the city of Sumy had reported at least 13 civilians injured, including 4 children, in the missile strike. The Russian missile attack hit a children's center for social and psychological rehabilitation and an orphanage in Sumy. The security situation in the Sumy region has further deteriorated following the start of Ukraine's cross-border incursion into the neighboring Russian region of Kursk on August 6. Sumy, with a population of over 250,000, is located about 350 kilometers east of Kyiv.
09:29 Ukraine: Two injured in Russian air strike on KyivRussia has once again targeted Kyiv with missiles (see entries 05:39 and 06:20). During the nighttime attack, at least two people were injured by falling debris from intercepted missiles, according to local officials. Fires were sparked, and buildings and infrastructure were damaged. A nationwide air alert lasted for nearly two hours until the early morning.
08:57 ISW: Majority of Russians Support War in UkraineThe Russian population continues to support the war in Ukraine – even following Ukraine's incursion into the Russian border region of Kursk. This is according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW)'s latest report. Citing polls from the independent Russian polling institution Levada Center, support for the Russian military operation in Ukraine among Russians increased in August. In August 2024, nearly 78 percent of respondents supported the war in Ukraine – an increase from 75 percent in July 2024 and 77 percent in June 2024. According to ISW analysts, the Russian population does not appear war-weary, providing the Kremlin with flexibility in its strategy to wage a prolonged war of attrition against Ukraine.
08:11 Ukraine Announces Russian Troop CasualtiesThe Ukrainian Military has disclosed new figures regarding Russian troop casualties in Ukraine. According to the information, approximately 617,600 Russian soldiers have been lost in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of approximately 1,300. The report from Kyiv also mentions the destruction of nine tanks, ten artillery systems, one medium artillery rocket system, and 30 drones. Since the commencement of the large-scale offensive, Russia has reportedly lost 8,601 tanks, 17,646 artillery systems, and 368 aircraft, 328 helicopters, drones, 28 ships, and one submarine, as per Ukraine's statements. Western estimates suggest lower loss numbers, which are likely underestimates.
07:03 Survival in Rubble in KharkivFollowing a Russian airstrike in Kharkiv, rescue teams managed to free a man alive from the debris of a collapsed event hall. The rescued individual reported feeling well shortly after being extracted. More than 40 people, including five children, were injured in the Russian rocket attacks on Kharkiv, as reported by authorities. Several rockets impacted a shopping mall and an event hall in the eastern city on Sunday afternoon.
06:20 Intense Russian Attack on KyivRussia conducted a series of attacks on Ukraine, utilizing drones, over ten cruise missiles, and countless ballistic missiles, affecting Kyiv and possibly other cities. The Ukrainian air force reported several explosions in Kyiv, causing many residents to seek shelter. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported several fires in the Holosiyivskyi and Solomianskyi districts on Telegram. The head of the Kyiv military administration, Serhiy Popko, also reported fires on Telegram. In the Shevchenkivskyi district, one individual was reportedly injured due to falling debris. "We will respond to everything. The enemy will feel it," said Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, on Telegram.
05:39 Russian Rocket Attack on KyivKyiv has once again been targeted by a Russian rocket attack, as per military reports from Ukraine. Ukrainian air defense units are engaged in repelling the attack, as confirmed by Ukrainian military representatives on Telegram. Witnesses in Kyiv heard numerous loud explosions, indicating the activation of air defense systems. The exact number of launched rockets and potential damage have not been confirmed at this time.
04:46 Putin on Gas Pipeline to ChinaPreparations for the construction of a new Russian gas pipeline through Mongolia to China are moving forward, as per President Vladimir Putin. The feasibility study was approved in January 2022, and necessary technical surveys were carried out, Putin said in an interview with the Mongolian newspaper "Onoodor," according to a transcript published on the Kremlin's website. The anticipated pipeline, "Power of Siberia 2," is expected to transport 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas from the Russian Yamal region to China via Mongolia annually.
03:34 Attack on Children's Facility in SumyRussian troops targeted a children's rehabilitation center and an orphanage in Sumy with rockets, resulting in 13 injuries, including two children. The center is located in a residential area, according to "Ukrainska Pravda," citing the local military administration.
02:26 Poll on Polish Response to Russian Drone IntrusionsAccording to a poll by the Polish newspaper "Rzeczpospolita," nearly 60% of Poles believe the Polish military should shoot down Russian drones intruding Polish airspace during attacks on Ukraine. The poll pertains to an unidentified flying object, possibly a kamikaze drone, that flew over Poland for over 30 minutes before vanishing on August 26. Polish Brigadier General Tomasz Drewniak told Radio RMF24 that Russia probably assessed Poland's air defense capabilities by sending drones into Polish airspace.
00:26 Casualty in Russian Border VillageOne individual was killed in Russian-occupied Belgorod due to Ukrainian shelling in the village of Shagarovka near the border, as reported by the governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov. Three people were injured in attacks on the village of Shebekino, while at least one other village was shelled by Ukrainians.
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23:08 Russia Claims Over 150 Intercepted DronesRussia claims to have repelled massive Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow and 14 other regions, intercepting a total of 158 unmanned aerial vehicles. Ten drones reportedly targeted Moscow, according to official statements.
22:24 Injuries Rise in Kharkiv After Russian Air StrikeThe number of injured individuals in the massive Russian air strike on Kharkiv has risen to 47, including seven children, as per the Ukrainian state emergency service on Telegram. Several civilian structures, including a shopping center, were hit according to images from news agencies.
21:52 Ukrainian Helicopter Crash During Training - Two Pilots DeadTwo pilots were killed when a Ukrainian Mi-2 helicopter crashed during a training exercise at the Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National Air Force University. The state news agency Ukrinform reports that investigators, experts, and defense ministry representatives are examining the crash site. The reason for the crash remains unknown.
21:06 Ukrainian Energy Firm Confirms Power CutsThe Ukrainian energy provider, Ukrenergo, has declared that various power interruptions will occur on Monday as a direct consequence of Russia's intense assaults on the nation's electrical network. Ukrenergo highlighted that essential facilities will remain untouched, but hinted at potential modifications in the range of constraints.
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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed concern about the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is under Russian control, and urged both Russia and Ukraine to ensure the plant's protection.
In response to the escalating conflict in Ukraine, The Commission (presumably the EU Commission) announced an additional aid package to support Ukrainian civilians affected by the war.
