Goodbye to Russian heritage inherence: Ukraine seeks to re-name coins
Ukraine intends to separate itself further from Russia by renaming its minor coins. Instead of "Kopiyka," they should be referred to as "Shah" in the future, as announced by the central bank in Kyiv. After investigating the history of Ukrainian currency, central bank head Andriy Pyshnyi concluded that the name "Kopiyka" represents Moscow's occupation. The term "Kopeyka" is also utilized in Russia for the smallest currency unit, but due to the weak ruble and its negligible value, Kopeks hold little significance within Russia. The National Bank has already prepared proposals for the necessary legislative adjustments. There are no plans to swap the existing coins in circulation; instead, they will continue to coexist.
While the progress in Kursk is slowing down, Russian forces are becoming increasingly active in Pokrovsk. This Ukrainian city serves as a critical point as it lies on "the last significant, well-established fortified line." According to military expert Gustav Gressel, the Ukrainians' tolerance for mistakes is decreasing steadily.
Ukraine's allies anticipate that Iran will soon deliver ballistic missiles to Russia, which could prompt a prompt response from Ukraine's allies, sources whisper to Bloomberg. Since the initiation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Iran has already provided Russia with numerous drones. The impending transfer of ballistic missiles would be a worrying development in the conflict, according to the magazine, citing several anonymous sources. The unknown individuals did not provide a timeframe or the scale of the deliveries. However, one official suggested that the deliveries might initiate within days. Ballistic missiles usually travel faster than cruise missiles or drones and can carry more substantial payloads.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian troops in the Donetsk region have made no advancements for two days. However, the circumstances in Pokrovsk on the eastern front are "difficult," Zelenskyy stated, basing his statement on comments from Supreme Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported by the Ukrainian newspaper Kyiv Independent. There have been severe battles around Pokrovsk for months since it is an essential logistics hub for Ukrainian forces. Russian troops recently experienced rapid progress (see entry at 17:22).
The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, will travel to Kyiv tomorrow. He will also visit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which Russia has been occupying since its invasion over two and a half years ago. The nuclear power plant has been the target of attacks and sabotage, with both Russia and Ukraine accusing each other for it. In mid-August, inspectors reported an escalation of the situation. There was an explosion near the security zone, which IAEA experts on the ground estimated was caused by a drone carrying an explosive device.
Throughout the Ukraine war, rumors have circulated about the use of various weapons, including flamethrower drones. Now, footage has surfaced allegedly showing their use. The footage appears to show a flamethrower drone apparently burning Russian military positions and a considerable portion of a forest.
The new Dutch Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, has announced a significant aid package for Ukraine. During a surprise visit to the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The aid package is valued over 200 million euros. It is Schoof's first visit to Ukraine since he took office in early July, replacing Mark Rutte, who is set to become the next NATO Secretary General in October. "Without exaggeration, the Netherlands has played a crucial role in helping Ukraine save countless lives. Our relations are stronger than ever. We stand side by side in the pursuit of a fair and lasting peace," said Zelenskyy.
The PCK refinery in Schwedt will remain under federal control for the time being. According to information from the German Press Agency, the German government seeks to extend the trusteeship administration of the majority shares of the Russian state corporation Rosneft in the PCK refinery again. The trusteeship administration would expire on September 10. The shares have been under federal trusteeship since September 2022. The German government's decision to no longer import Russian oil due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine is the reason behind this move. PCK switched to alternative supply sources at the beginning of 2023. Along with Schwedt, two other facilities are also affected. Rosneft holds 54 percent of the shares in the PCK refinery in northeastern Brandenburg.
17:22 Russia Takes Largest Daily Territorial Gains in Ukraine Since October 2022 - 15 Square Kilometers Per DayThe Russian military has seen significant progress in August, as per estimations based on data from the American think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Over the last month, the Russian army has gained control over 477 square kilometers in Ukraine, marking the largest territory gain by Russia since October 2022, which translates to more than 15 square kilometers per day in August. The Russian forces have mainly encountered success in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. As of last night, the Russian army is just 7 kilometers away from the strategically crucial city of Pokrovsk.
16:56 Putin in Mongolia Visit - Meeting with Mongolian Pres. Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a trip to Mongolia. On Tuesday, Putin will meet with Mongolian President Uchnaagiin Khürelsük. The two leaders will participate in a ceremony marking the victory of Soviet and Mongolian troops against the Japanese army in 1939. The battles resulted in the loss of thousands of lives. For Putin, this is his first visit to a country that is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since the court issued a warrant for his arrest almost 18 months ago, due to alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Ukraine is urging Mongolia to arrest Putin and hand him over to The Hague's court. Putin's spokesperson commented last week that the Kremlin is not concerned about Putin's arrest in Mongolia.
16:40 Alleged Corruption in Russian Army - Mumindzhanov under InvestigationRussian Investigative Committee has initiated inquiries into another high-level military official, General Valery Mumindzhanov, who is being probed for accepting bribes on a large scale. This offense is punishable by up to 15 years in prison in Russia. Mumindzhanov holds the position of deputy commander for logistics in the Leningrad military district and was previously employed in the defense ministry. The investigation reports that Mumindzhanov demanded and received over 20 million rubles (approximately 202,000 euros) in exchange for approving uniform supply contracts. Since April, more than ten military officials in Russia, including generals and high-ranking defense ministry staff, have been targeted by law enforcement agencies following accusations of corruption or fraud. Some critics suspect a purge campaign.
16:25 Zelensky on Kursk Operation - "Proceeding as Planned"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the operation in the Russian region of Kursk is progressing as planned. Zelensky shared his statement during a visit to Zaporizhzhia, according to a correspondent with the Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform. "The Kursk operation is fulfilling its objectives and is proceeding as planned," said Zelensky. "However, we believe that the Kursk operation could also have an impact on more intense Russian attacks in Pokrovsk and Torez," added the Ukrainian president. Currently, the most powerful Russian brigades are concentrated in these frontlines.
15:52 Wildfires Endanger Villages in Occupied Luhansk - No Firefighters in Sight?Residents in the occupied Luhansk region are currently facing dual threats: war and wildfires. Social media is flooded with complaints about the lack of firefighters to extinguish the fires.
15:16 Ukraine Receives Patriot System from Romania - Parliament Approves TransferThe Romanian parliament has given its approval for transferring a Patriot air defense system to Ukraine. The bill now moves forward for final voting, as reported by Reuters. In June, Bucharest agreed to donate one of its two operational Patriot systems to Ukraine, with the condition that its allies replace the system being relinquished.
14:53 Mobilization in Ukraine - Call for Age Limit Reduction to 50A petition has been started, urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to lower the mobilization age limit to 50 years. Over 25,000 signatures have been collected so far, as reported by the Ukrainian newspaper "Kyiv Independent" . According to Ukrainian law, an electronic petition to the president requires at least 25,000 signatures within three months to be considered. There are still 34 days left to gather signatures.
14:34 Eleven Injured in Russian Region of Belgorod - Ukrainian Attacks BlamedEleven people, including two children, were reportedly injured in Ukrainian attacks in the Russian region of Belgorod and its capital city, according to Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region, via Telegram. A kindergarten was also allegedly destroyed. Local authorities have closed several schools and kindergartens in the region for a week following the attacks. September 2 is traditionally the first day of school after the summer break in certain regions of Ukraine and Russia.
14:10 Zelensky: Russian Projectile Ravages Islamic Center in Kyiv During the Russian projectile assault on Kyiv during the late hours of Monday (refer to entries 05:39, 06:20, and 09:29), a mosque and an adjacent Islamic cultural center endured significant damage. In a post on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted that Russia exhibits no regard for spiritual or human values, and holds no respect for any religion or belief. "It persists in its campaign of devastation against the Ukrainian people and aims to destroy all our communities and even sacred places of worship," Zelensky concluded. The lead imam of the local community, Vadym Dashevski, communicated with Reuters stating that the mosque attack was an act of cowardice.
13:39 Footage Exposes Monstrous Drone Swarm in and around Moscow Ukraine orchestrated a substantial drone assault, reaching targets in and around Moscow. A blast is captured on video at a refinery situated 16 kilometers from the Kremlin. Two additional power plants also experienced damage. As per Russian records, over 150 Ukrainian drones were intercepted.
12:58 Sikorski: Poland's Duty to Shoot Down Incoming Russian Drones Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski believes Poland is obligated to eliminate incoming Russian drones and other aerial targets approaching from Ukraine prior to entering Polish airspace. Sikorski expressed this sentiment to the British "Financial Times" (FT), disregarding the official NATO stance concerning the escalation risk of confronting Russian forces directly. NATO dismisses the hypothesis of shooting down Russian drones and missiles in Ukraine, as well as Kiev's request for a no-fly zone over the nation. Sikorski informed the FT: "If hostile aerial objects are approaching our airspace, this would represent a justifiable act of self-defense. Because when they have entered, the risk of injury from debris is considerable."
12:12 Munz: Russia's Response to AfD and BSW Electoral Successes, and the Potential Largest Drone Attack on Moscow The electoral triumphs of AfD and BSW are a point of interest in Russia. ntv reporter Rainer Munz provides insights regarding Moscow's responses to these electoral successes and reports on the potential largest drone assault on the Russian capital to date.
11:40 Putin Praises Russian Conquests' Speed Russian President Vladimir Putin has lauded the tempo of his troops occupying new territories in neighboring Ukraine. He informed Russian news agencies that Ukraine's counteroffensive in the Kursk region failed to halt the advance of Russian troops in the Donbass. "We're not discussing advancing 200 or 300 meters," Putin mentioned. "We're discussing several square kilometers. This pace of the offensive in the Donbass is something we haven't observed in a long time." On his journey to Mongolia, Putin paused in the Siberian republic of Tuva to attend a lesson in the new subject "Conversations about Significance," designed to bring children closer to the Kremlin's political course.
11:07 Ukraine: 22 Missiles and 20 Drones Neutralized Ukraine's air force reports having neutralized 22 out of 35 missiles and destroyed 20 out of 23 Russian assault drones. Nine ballistic missiles and 13 cruise missiles were neutralized over Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Poltava, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhzhia.
10:36 Video Captures Russian Missile Strike on Kharkiv Russia has engulfed Kharkiv in missile attacks for several days. According to Ukrainian reports, ten missiles were fired toward the city on Sunday, striking a shopping and entertainment complex and injuring numerous individuals.
10:01 Injury Count Rises in Sumy Following Russian Strike The injury count has escalated following a Russian missile strike on the city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine. The current figure from Ukraine's Interior Ministry indicates 18 individuals injured, including 6 children. The ministry disseminated this information on Telegram. Previously (see entry 03:34), the city administration of Sumy reported that at least 13 civilians, including 4 children, were injured in the attack. The Russian missile strike impacted a center for social and psychological rehabilitation of children and an orphanage in Sumy. The security situation in the Sumy region has deteriorated further with the initiation of the cross-border incursion into the neighboring Russian region of Kursk on August 6. Sumy, a city housing over 250,000 inhabitants, is located approximately 350 kilometers east of Kyiv.
09:29 Ukraine: Two Injured in Kyiv by Russian Aerial Strike Russia has once again attacked Kyiv with missiles (refer to entries 05:39 and 06:20). At least two people were injured by falling debris from shattered missiles, local authorities reported. Fires also erupted, and infrastructures and houses were damaged. A nationwide air alert lasted for about two hours starting from the late hours of Monday and into the early hours of Tuesday.
Russian People Stand By War in Ukraine: ISW Report
As per the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a majority of Russians continue to back the war in Ukraine. This comes despite Ukraine's incursion into the Russian border region of Kursk. ISW's latest report, based on data from independent Russian polling institute Levada Center, reveals that support for the Russian military operation in Ukraine incrementally increased in August. Currently, about 78% of respondents support the war in Ukraine, rising from 75% in July and 77% in June. The Russian populace does not appear to be growing weary of war, giving Russian authorities leeway in their strategy to prolong the war of attrition against Ukraine, ISW analysts suggest.
Ukraine Shares Russian Casualty Figures
Ukrainian General Staff has released new figures on losses incurred by the Russian military in Ukraine. According to these figures, around 617,600 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine since February 24, 2022, with a daily loss of 1,300 soldiers in the most recent 24 hours. Additionally, nine tanks, ten artillery systems, one medium artillery rocket system, and 30 drones have been destroyed in the recent period. Since the large-scale offensive, Russia has lost 8,601 tanks, 17,646 artillery systems, 368 aircraft, 328 helicopters, 28 ships, and one submarine, as per Ukrainian reports. While Western estimates indicate more modest losses, these are believed to be minimal figures.
Rescue in Kharkiv After Russian Airstrike
Following the Russian airstrike on Kharkiv, rescue teams managed to pull a man out of the wreckage of a collapsed event hall. The survivor reportedly expressed his well-being shortly after being rescued. Over 40 individuals, including five children, were reportedly injured in Russian rocket attacks on Kharkiv. Several rockets detonated at a shopping mall and an event hall around lunchtime on Sunday.
Russian Airstrike on Kyiv
Kyiv was targeted by multiple Russian drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. Reports of explosions and fires in Kyiv caused many residents to seek cover in air raid shelters. The city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed explosions in the Holosiyivskyi and Solomianskyi districts. Klitschko also reported several fires, and Kyiv's military administration head, Serhiy Popko, shared similar information about fires experienced in the Shevchenkivskyi district. A person was injured in Shevchenkivskyi by debris falling from the sky.
Multiple Russian Airstrikes in Kyiv
Russian airstrikes targeted Kyiv again, according to Ukrainian military authorities. Fires and explosions were reported, and air defense units were called upon to respond to the attack. There is yet to be a clear count of the rockets used or damages caused.
Putin on Russia's Gas Pipeline with China
Russian President Vladimir Putin believes the construction of a new Russian gas pipeline to China is proceeding on schedule. The pipeline is estimated to transport 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from the Russian Yamal region to China. The feasibility study was approved in January 2022, and the necessary technical surveys have been carried out, Putin mentioned.
Attack on Sumy Orphanage
The Russian army launched rocket attacks on a Sumy center for social and psychological rehabilitation for children and an orphanage, injuring 13 individuals, including two children. The building is positioned in a residential neighborhood, as reported by the local military administration.
Polish Poll on Shooting Down Russian Spy Drones
As per a Polish poll conducted by "Rzeczpospolita," nearly 60% of Poles favor Polish military forces to destroy Russian spy drones that enter Polish territory during attacks on Ukraine. The poll references an unidentified flying object, presumably a kamikaze drone, which passed over Poland for over 30 minutes and subsequently disappeared on August 26. Polish Brigadier General Tomasz Drewniak suggested Russia might have intentionally tested Poland's air defense system by sending drones into Polish airspace.
One Killed in Russian Shelling in Belgorod
Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, of the Russian region of Belgorod, reported one fatality and three injuries due to Ukrainian artillery fire in the village of Shagarovka. At least one more village was shelled by Ukrainian forces.
Russian Interception of Ukrainian Drones
Russia claimed to have repelled significant Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow and fourteen other regions, intercepting a total of 158 flying objects. Ten drones were reportedly launched towards Moscow, according to the Russian defense ministry.
10:24 PM: Intensified Russian Airstrikes in Kharkiv, Casualty Count Climbs to 47The casualty count in Kharkiv following the massive Russian airstrikes has surged to 47, with 7 minor civilians included, as reported by Ukraine's emergency services via Telegram. Numerous civilian structures, including a shopping mall, exhibited signs of damage in news agency snapshots.
9:52 PM: Deadly Ukrainian Helicopter Crash During Training Flight - Pilots PerishTwo lives were lost when a Ukrainian helicopter collided during a training flight at the Ivan Kozhedub Kharkiv National Air Force University. Ukrinform, the country's state news agency, reported that the incident involved a Mi-2 helicopter during a training excercise. The university's Facebook page conveyed sincere condolences, acknowledging an irreplaceable loss: the two-person crew has departed from us. Investigators, experts, and defense ministry officials are currently scrutinizing the crash site to ascertain the cause of the accident.
9:06 PM: Ukrainian Energy Provider Warns of Power OutagesAccording to Ukrenergo, Ukraine will be plagued by power outages on Monday as a result of the heavy Russian attacks on its power grid. Critical infrastructure supplies will remain uninterrupted; however, Ukrenergo issues a caution about potential alterations in the extent of these restrictions.
To access previously reported occurrences, see here.)
- In light of the ongoing conflict, Ukraine's allies are concerned about the potential delivery of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia, which could escalate the situation further.
- The attack on Ukraine by Russia continues to have significant impact, with Ukraine's allies reporting daily territorial gains by Russian forces in August, the largest since October 2022.
