Macron's stance on the Telegram chief's detention: The arrest isn't driven by political motives
Two days after the detention of Telegram's founder Pavel Durov, France officially confirms the matter. "The detention was part of an ongoing judicial investigation," French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X. "This was not a political move." The courts have the final say.
17:42 Report: 15-year-old jailed in Russia for "terrorism"A 15-year-old student in Russia has been imprisoned for expressing sympathies towards Ukraine, according to a report by the Russian opposition media outlet Mediazona. A court in the eastern Russian city of Khabarovsk sentenced the teenager to four and a half years in a juvenile detention center for belonging to a terrorist group and planning a terrorist act. The verdict was announced on August 16 but was only made public now. The boy's grandmother told Mediazona that he might have been influenced by Russian security services. The boy had repeatedly expressed his support for Ukraine to his classmates and on social media. The case centered around a Telegram video showing the boy and two other teenagers throwing Molotov cocktails against the wall of an abandoned building.
17:13 Governor: Dam attack results in no significant harmThe Russian attack on a dam near Kyiv resulted in no substantial damage, according to the governor of the region, Ruslan Kravchenko. The road on the dam will reopen later in the afternoon, provided there are no further attacks or air raid warnings, he told the Ukrainian service of Radio Liberty.
16:46 Ukrainian Defense Minister shares plans for response to attacksUkrainian Defense Minister Rustem Ummerov has announced plans for a response to the massive Russian attacks on his country. "Ukraine is preparing its retaliation. Weapons of our production," he said, according to the Ministry of Defense on X. He also urged Western allies to enhance Ukraine's long-range capabilities and lift restrictions on attacks on military facilities in Russia.
16:12 Wagner Group denies involvement in UkraineThe Wagner Group denies having mercenaries fighting alongside the Russian army in Ukraine. They are currently operating only in Belarus and Africa, according to a statement published on Telegram, as reported by "Kyiv Independent." Wagner mercenaries are not currently serving in the Russian National Guard or the ranks of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the group claims. "At the moment," Wagner is not participating in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the group claims. Any changes will be announced.
15:15 Russia Reports Counterattacks in KurskAccording to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian troops have attacked Ukrainian soldiers at more than a dozen locations on the frontline in the Russian region of Kursk. Additionally, Ukrainian attacks have been repelled at seven other locations in Kursk. Furthermore, Ukrainian forces in the region of Sumy have been shelled at 16 locations. Sumy is on the Ukrainian side and borders Russian Kursk.
14:55 IAEA Prioritizes Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant in KurskThe Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is leading the inspection of the Kursk nuclear power plant in the Russian oblast of the same name, where Ukrainian troops have entered. Grossi stated on X that this is due to the serious situation at hand. "I emphasize once again: The safety of nuclear facilities must not be compromised under any circumstances." The visit is scheduled for Tuesday. Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers entered Kursk in a surprise attack on August 6.
14:47 Fire breaks out at Russia's Largest Oil RefineryA fire has erupted at Russia's largest oil refinery in the city of Omsk, according to the operator Gazprom. The company stated in a message that the fire is under control and that the automatic safety system of the facility detected a fire in the technical equipment. Production is continuing as usual. According to the Russian news agency TASS, seven workers were injured in the fire. The agency Interfax reports that one of them has died. Initially, only two injuries were reported.
14:32 Russia Claims to Have Targeted Western Weapons and AmmunitionAccording to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian troops have attacked gas compressor stations and power transformers in Ukraine. The ministry stated that the energy facilities, which provided electricity to the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, were struck by drones and missiles. Western weapons and ammunition stored at two Ukrainian airfields were also reportedly targeted.
During the Russian assault on Ukraine, an unidentified object seemingly entered Polish airspace and may have come to rest on Polish soil. The military's operations command, as reported by PAP, is currently conducting a search for the object, which is confirmed not to be a rocket. General Maciej Klisz, operational head of the forces, informed Polsat News that during the intense attack on Ukrainian territory on Monday, an object presumably entered Polish territory. The "Guardian" cites an army spokesperson, suggesting the object may be a drone.
In the intensive aerial attack on Ukraine this morning, a dam north of Kyiv was believed to have been hit by a Russian rocket. As reported by Ukrainian media sources, a video shared by Yaroslav Trofimov of the "Wall Street Journal," among others, depicts part of the hydroelectric power plant on fire. If the dam were to fail, significant loss of life among millions downstream is a possibility, as Trofimov stressed, with no official reports as of yet on the damage to the structure.
Russia allegedly deployed over 100 rockets and close to 100 drones in the latest large-scale attack, according to Ukrainian data. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a video message posted on Telegram, commented that this was one of the most severe attacks, with the Russian Ministry of Defense subsequently claiming on Telegram that they had targeted all significant infrastructure facilities in their massive attacks on Ukraine. Zelenskyy explained that the attack was combined, involving more than 100 various rocket types and around 100 drones of Iranian origin. The Russian Ministry of Defense described the event as a "massive strike using high-precision long-range weapons" on "essential energy infrastructure facilities."
Ukraine has requested the West to authorize the use of their provided weapons for attacks deep into Russian territory, believing that doing so would expedite the end of Russian aggression. As reported by the chief of staff for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Andriy Yermak, on Telegram, this decision would bring an end to Russian terror more quickly.
Russia views negotiations with Ukraine over a ceasefire as nearly futile. The incursion of Ukrainian forces into the Russian border region of Kursk is not tolerable, as stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. There have been no discussions concerning a ceasefire, and the topic is no longer pertinent.
Dictator Lukashenko has gathered an estimated tens of thousands of soldiers at the border with Ukraine, a move that neighboring countries observe with concern. However, ntv correspondent Rainer Munz speculates that this is more a display of power than a genuine threat.
Intelligence reports suggesting a possible threat from Russian sabotage, utilizing a drone, prompted a temporary increase in security level at the NATO air base in Geilenkirchen near Aachen. According to German security sources, there was a credible indication from a foreign intelligence agency of preparations for a potential Russian sabotage act against the NATO base.
Since its initial ignition by a Ukrainian drone strike on August 17, a fire at the Proletarsk fuel depot in southern Russia continues to burn, as revealed by recent satellite images from NASA's FIRMS fire and forest monitoring system. Unofficial reports indicate another attack occurred on Friday morning, prompting the local authorities of Rostov to declare a state of emergency for the Proletarsk district. By Wednesday, 47 firefighters had reportedly been injured in the blaze, as reported by the TASS state news agency.
The Polish military responded to the proximity of Russian attacks to their border by dispatching interceptors, as reported by PAP. Allied aircraft were also involved in the operation, while the Ukrainian air force confirmed the temporary deployment of 11 long-range bombers Tu-95, which are capable of carrying cruise missiles. Hypersonic Kinzhal missiles reportedly targeted Ukraine, while attacks were also made from the Black Sea.
Ukrainian soldiers, as reported by a video shared on social media by Governor Viktor Mykyta, allegedly attempted to shoot down a Russian cruise missile utilizing a machine gun mounted on a truck in the western region of Transcarpathia. According to Mykyta's account, the missile was directed at the region from the neighboring Lviv region and was ultimately downed by the 650th separate anti-aircraft machine gun battalion. The video's authenticity was verified by the RTL/ntv verification team, although the specific type of missile remains unclear. According to the "Kyiv Independent," however, it was not the machine gun that was responsible for the missile's downfall but instead an air defense missile from the Ukrainian armed forces, as confirmed by the former air force spokesperson, Yuriy Ihnat.
At least 15 Ukrainian regions have reportedly been targeted by Russia, with energy infrastructure under threat.
Nearly half of Ukraine's regions have suffered attacks by Russia, as per Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal's early morning report. Today, a significant Russian assault struck 15 regions. The adversary utilized various weaponry: drones, missiles, and hypersonic missiles. Regrettably, there are fatalities and injuries. In Ukrainian reports, energy infrastructure in four regions has been struck. Officials in Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Rivne, and Lviv reported this on Telegram. Energy infrastructure in their respective regions has been targeted, they mentioned. In certain areas of Kyiv, power and water supply have been disrupted, Mayor Vitali Klitschko informed.
09:40 ISW: Russia Shifting Forces from Lesser Warfronts in Ukraine to Kursk
Expert analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) speculate that the Russian military continues to deploy troops from lesser- importance zones on the Ukrainian front to Kursk. According to briefings to Russian President Vladimir Putin by commanders of the Russian 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), this may be referring to the Kursk region. ISW has observed troops from the 810th Marine Infantry Brigade, 155th Marine Infantry Brigade, and 11th VDV Brigade operating in the Kursk region, and has received indications that the Russian military leadership recently deployed elements of the 56th VDV Regiment from the Robotyne area in the western part of the Saporizhzhia region to the border region. The Russian military command is resisting operational pressure to withdraw its forces from priority offensive efforts to capture Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, the experts said.
09:14 First Deaths Reported from Large-Scale Russian Strikes
At least three individuals have lost their lives in Russian air strikes, as reported by Ukrainian authorities. Casualties have been reported in Luzk, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia cities in the west, east, and south, respectively. In Luzk, a multi-family house was struck by "a hostile attack", causing one death. The governors of the Odessa, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv regions reported explosions in their regions on Telegram and urged people to seek cover. Earlier, the governor of the central Poltava region, Filip Pronin, reported five injuries in an attack on an industrial facility.
Read more here.
08:50 Ukraine Observes Concentration of Belarusian Troops: "Belarus' Entry to the War Would Expand the Battlefield"
Ukraine is watching warily as Belarusian troops assemble near their shared border. The current concentration is greater than previous instances, and Belarus' involvement in the conflict could prove devastating, concurred ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald.
08:22 Explosions Echo Throughout Ukrainian Cities - Power Failure in KyivExplosions are being heard in various Ukrainian cities as a result of the massive Russian air strike (see mention at 07:24). Air raid sirens went off across the country just before 6 AM local time. By 8:30 AM, explosions were heard in Kyiv, followed by more. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that electricity is out in numerous districts of the capital and there are also water supply issues on the right side of the city. Explosions have also been reported in Kharkiv, Odessa, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Kremenchuk, Dnipro, Khmelnytskyi, Kropyvnytskyi, and Kryvyi Rih.
07:53 Moscow: Announces Destruction of 20 Ukrainian DronesRussia's air defense claims to have intercepted 20 drones targeting Russian territory from Ukraine, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Nine were intercepted above Saratov, three above Kursk, two each above Belgorod, Bryansk, and Tula, and one above the Oryol and Ryazan regions.
07:07 Chechen Commander Brags About Ukrainian Vehicle Destructions in KurskThe Chechen Achmat special forces, teaming up with the 2nd Brigade of special forces, declare that they've smashed two armored battle tanks, five armored combat vehicles, and a French-designed light tank (AMR) in the Kursk region within the past day. Russian state news agency TASS, citing commanding general Major General Apti Alaudinov, reports an additional destroyal of a squad of grenade launchers, a mortar, and an artillery gun. Alaudinov boasts, "Our folks have inflicted substantial losses on the Ukrainian forces." He also admits that the Ukrainian forces' progress has halted. "The opposition is attempting to advance, but without success. We've already begun to annihilate the foe in various regions and liberate some settlements. I believe that this trend will persist daily."
06:41 North Korea: Kim Jong Un Calls for Mass Production of Kamikaze DronesNorth Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, has ordered the development and fabrication of more kamikaze drones as an "essential aspect of war preparedness," according to a report by the state news agency KCNA. He stated this during a test of domestically produced drones. Kamikaze drones are unmanned aircraft fitted with explosives that steer towards enemy targets. Russia frequently employs Iranian drones of the Shahed type in Ukraine. North Korea and Russia have strengthened their military cooperation. The drone test reportedly took place on Saturday amid escalating tensions with neighboring South Korea. Photos reveal white flying objects with X-shaped wings flying towards tank targets and detonating. Reports claim that the target objects are modeled after South Korean K-2 tanks.
More on this can be read here.
06:34 Ukraine: 1140 Russian Soldiers "Killed or Wounded" in 24 HoursAccording to Ukrainian military reports, 1140 Russian soldiers have either been killed or injured in the past 24 hours. Since the start of the war, the total number of "killed or injured" Russian military personnel stands at 608,820. These figures can't be independently verified. The last 24 hours have seen the destruction of four Russian tanks, 17 armored vehicles, 47 artillery systems, one multiple rocket launcher, one air defense system, and 39 drones.
06:12 Kyiv Urges Minsk to Avoid "Disastrous Decisions"Ukraine is urging Belarus to withdraw significant troop contingents and military equipment from the shared border. In a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minsk government is advised to refrain from hostile actions and withdraw its forces from the border region. Kyiv warns Belarus not to make "disastrous decisions" under Moscow's pressure. Belarus has yet to respond to this statement. Media reports suggest that among the troops at the border are Belarusian special units and former Wagner soldiers. Equipment includes tanks, artillery, air defense systems, and engineering equipment stationed in the Gomel region along the northern border of Ukraine. The statement also notes that Ukraine has "never initiated hostile actions against the Belarusian people and has no intentions of doing so in the future."
05:46 Russian Governor Laments House Damages from Drone DebrisAccording to the governor of the Russian region of Saratov, numerous residences in the cities of Saratov and Engels have been harmed by debris from shot-down Ukrainian drones. Emergency services are on the scene to respond. Engels is home to a strategic bomber base of Russia.
03:52 Air Defense Alerts about Drone Attack on KyivAccording to Ukrainian reports, air defense systems are active in the Kyiv region to repel Russian drone assaults. "An enemy drone maneuver has been identified! Air defense systems in the region are operational," the regional military administration reports via Telegram. No reports of damage or casualties have emerged yet.
00:19 Zelensky Condemns "Precisely Targeted" Attack on Reuters TeamUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the deadly rocket attack on Reuters journalists in his evening address. The attack on a hotel in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk claimed the life of one employee, Ryan Evans, and injured two others, Reuters stated. Evans had been working for Reuters since 2022, advising journalists on security in Ukraine, Israel, and at the Paris Olympics. Zelensky stated that a "typical city hotel" was destroyed by a Russian Iskander rocket. The attack was "precisely targeted, calculated." "My condolences to the family and friends." The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office announced a preliminary investigation on Telegram. The incident happened on Saturday at 22:35 local time. Reuters couldn't confirm if the rocket was fired by Russia or if the hotel was deliberately targeted. No Russian statement is available.
Read all previous developments
In light of the student's imprisonment for sympathizing with Ukraine, it's concerning to consider that the military could potentially use similar tactics against individuals expressing dissenting views.
Despite Russian denials, there have been reports suggesting that mercenaries from the Wagner Group are fighting alongside the Russian army in Ukraine. If this is true, it could escalate the conflict further.
