Major blaze engulfs Russia's most substantial oil refinery at 14:32.
16:32 Russia asserts strikes on western weapons and supplies
According to assertions by the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian forces have reportedly targeted various energy facilities in Ukraine. These facilities include gas compressor stations and power transformers, which were attacked using drones and missiles. The ministries claim these facilities were supplying electricity to the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. Additionally, western weapons and ammunition stored at two Ukrainian airfields were said to have been targeted.
16:09 Press Claims: Over 247 Russian Soldiers Captured in Kursk
Since their incursion into the Russian region of Kursk in early August, Ukrainian forces have reportedly captured over 240 Russian soldiers, according to The Washington Post. The Western news outlet analyzed over 130 photos and videos taken since the incursion on August 6. Most of these appeared to have been filmed by Ukrainian soldiers and shared on social media. The analysis also included photos taken by a Post photographer from a prison where captured Russian soldiers are said to be held in Ukraine. "The verified images show at least 247 Russian prisoners and support claims by Ukrainian authorities that hundreds of Russians were captured during the incursion," the paper writes. It reports that many of the captured soldiers were young military conscripts, seemingly without resistance.
15:43 Object Enters Polish Airspace, Likely Lands on Territory
During the Russian attack on Ukraine, an object reportedly entered Polish airspace and likely landed on Polish territory. State news agency PAP reported this, citing the army's operations command. The search for the object, which is not believed to be a missile, is ongoing. "During the massive attack on Ukrainian territory on Monday, an object likely entered Polish territory," General Maciej Klisz, the operational commander of the armed forces, was quoted as saying by Polsat News. The Guardian reported, citing an army spokesman, that the object was likely a drone.
15:21 Possible Russian Missile Hit Near Kyiv Dam
In the large-scale air attack on Ukraine this morning, a dam north of Kyiv was reportedly hit by a Russian missile, according to Ukrainian media reports. In a video shared on social media, part of the hydroelectric power plant can be seen on fire. There are no official reports yet on the damage to the structure.
12:57 Zelensky Describes "Heaviest Attack" by Russia
Russia, according to Ukrainian reports, used more than 100 missiles and nearly 100 drones in the latest massive attack. "This was one of the heaviest attacks," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a video message published on Telegram. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated on Telegram that it had hit all targeted infrastructure facilities in massive attacks on Ukraine. Zelensky explained that it was a "combined" attack, involving more than 100 missiles of different types and around 100 Shahed drones of Iranian origin. The Russian Ministry of Defense described it as a "massive strike with high-precision long-range weapons" on "important energy infrastructure facilities".
12:38 Kyiv Urges West for Attacks Deep into Russian Territory
The Ukraine is calling on the West to allow the use of weapons provided for attacks deep into Russian territory. "Such a decision would end Russian terror more quickly," wrote the Chief of Staff of President Volodymyr Zelensky, Andriy Yermak, on Telegram.
12:09 Kremlin Responds to Talks: No Longer Relevant
Russia believes that negotiations with Ukraine over a ceasefire have almost lost their significance. The incursion of Ukrainian troops into the Russian border region of Kursk cannot be tolerated, said the spokesman of the Russian Presidential Administration, Dmitry Peskov. There must be a reaction. There have been no talks about a ceasefire, and the topic is no longer relevant.
![The recent NASA recordings indicate that the fuel storage facility continues to blaze. The present NASA image indicates that the fuel storage facility continues to burn.](https://cdn.aussiedlerbote.de/content/images/2024/08/26/460134/jpeg/4-3/1200/75/the-latest-nasa-footage-shows-that-the-fuel-depot-is-still-burning.webp)
11:41 Munz: Belarusian Army "Show of Force" Rather Than Threat
Dictator Lukashenko is gathering tens of thousands of soldiers at the border with Ukraine, a development that the country watches with concern. However, according to ntv correspondent Rainer Munz, this is rather a show of force than a real threat.
11:25 Intelligence Hints at Russian Sabotage Behind Geilenkirchen Alarm
Intelligence reports of a possible threat from a Russian sabotage act using a drone were behind the temporary increase in the security level at the NATO airbase in Geilenkirchen near Aachen. There was a serious indication from a foreign intelligence service "of preparations for a probable Russian sabotage act against the NATO base," according to German security sources.
More on this can be read here.
11:20 NASA Images: Russians Struggle to Contain Fuel Depot Fire in Proletarsk
The fuel depot in Proletarsk, southern Russia, has been burning for more than a week, as shown by recent satellite images from NASA's FIRMS wildfire and forest fire monitoring system. The fire, which started in the night of August 18 due to a Ukrainian drone attack, has not been contained yet. Unofficial reports suggest another attack occurred on Friday morning. The regional authorities of Rostov declared a state of emergency for the Proletarsk district. The state news agency TASS reported on Wednesday that 47 firefighters had been injured in the blaze so far.
10:50 Poland Reacts to Nearby Conflict: Deploys Fighter JetsThe significant morning air raid has spilled over to a neighboring country, Ukraine. Due to the close proximity of Russian attacks to Poland's border, the Polish military mobilized interceptors, as reported by news agency PAP. Allies' aircraft also participated in the operation. As per the Ukrainian air force, the Russian army temporarily stationed 11 long-range bombers Tu-95 in Russia, carrying cruise missiles. Hypersonic Kinzhal missiles were also launched towards Ukraine. The country was also attacked from the Black Sea.
10:22 Video Evidence: Ukrainian Soldier Fights Off Russian MissileThis morning, Ukrainian soldiers of an air defense unit stationed in the western region of Transcarpathia are said to have engaged in a fight with a Russian cruise missile. Governor Viktor Mykyta shared a video of the incident on social media. According to him, the missile was launched from the neighboring region of Lviv and was fired down by the 650th separate anti-aircraft machine gun battalion. The video's authenticity was confirmed by the RTL/ntv verification team. Nevertheless, it's unclear whether the missile was downed by the machine gun fire or a Ukrainian air defense missile, as reported by the former spokesman of the air force, Yuriy Ihnat.
10:03 Widespread Attacks: 15 Ukrainian Regions under Fire - Energy Infrastructure TargetedOver half of Ukraine's regions were attacked this morning by Russia, as stated by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. "Today, a massive Russian attack hit 15 regions. The enemy employed diverse weapons: drones, rockets, Kinzhal (hypersonic) missiles. Casualties have been reported," he wrote on Telegram. Ukrainian reports indicate that energy infrastructure in four regions was damaged. Authorities in Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Rivne, and Lviv reported on Telegram that their regions' energy infrastructure was under attack. Kyiv experienced power and water outages, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
09:40 ISW: Redeployment of Troops to Kursk Likely
The Russian military is likely continuing to move troops to Kursk from lower priority sectors on the Ukrainian front, according to experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). 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) reportedly briefed Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend on combat operations in Russian regions bordering Ukraine. The ISW's current situation report suggests that Kursk could be the target area. The ISW has noticed elements of the 810th Marine Infantry Brigade, 155th Marine Infantry Brigade, and 11th VDV Brigade involved in conflicts in the Kursk region and has received indications that the Russian military leadership recently redeployed elements of the 56th VDV Regiment from the Robotyne area in western Saporischschja to the border region. Experts believe that the Russian military command is resisting operational pressure to withdraw forces from priority offensive efforts to capture Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
09:14 Casualties Reported
here.
At least three people have died as a result of Russian airstrikes, according to Ukrainian authorities. Reports of fatalities have surfaced from Luzk in the west, Dnipro in the east, and Saporischschja in the south. Luzk's mayor, Ihor Polischtschuk, reports that a multi-family residence was hit by "an enemy attack," resulting in one fatality. The governors of the Odessa, Saporischschja, and Kharkiv regions announced explosions in their regions via Telegram and urged citizens to seek shelter. Earlier, the governor of the central Poltava region, Filip Pronin, reported that five people were injured in an attack on an industrial facility.
Read more here.
08:50 Ukraine on Alert: Belarusian Troops GatherUkraine is remaining vigilant as Belarusian troops amass near the shared border. The current concentration of troops is larger than previous ones, as explained by ntv correspondent Nadja Kriewald.
08:22 Ukrainian Cities Shake to Explosions; Kyiv Suffers Power OutageExplosions are being reported in several Ukrainian cities following the massive Russian airstrike (see entry at 07:24). Air raid sirens sounded across the country around 6:00 AM local time. Explosions were first heard in Kyiv around 8:30 AM, with more following. According to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, power is out in various districts of the capital and there are issues with water supply on the right side of the city. Explosions have also been reported in Kharkiv, Odessa, Vinnytsia, Saporischschja, Kremenchuk, Dnipro, Khmelnytskyi, Kropyvnytskyi, and Kryvyi Rih.
07:53 Moscow: Russia Claims to have destroyed 20 Ukrainian DronesAccording to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russia's air defense system destroyed 20 drones originating from Ukraine towards Russian territory overnight. Nine were intercepted over the Saratov region, three over Kursk, two each over Belgorod, Bryansk, and Tula. One drone was detected over the regions of Oryol and Ryazan.
07:24 Intense Air Assault on Ukraine by Russia Reports suggest that Ukraine is currently experiencing a significant assault. Explosions in Kyiv at this moment indicate a massive Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine from various land, air, and sea sources. According to the Kyiv Post, military expert Nico Lange states that missiles are being fired from ships in the Black Sea and 11 Tu-95 bombers. Russia is also utilizing drones and ballistic missiles. Explosions are reportedly heard in several cities.
07:07 Chechen Commander Discloses Ukrainian Losses in Kursk The Chechen special forces' Achmat unit, alongside the 2nd Special Forces Brigade, claims to have destroyed two armored vehicles, five armored combat vehicles, and a light tank of French origin (AMR) in the Kursk region over the past day. This information was reported by Russia's state-run TASS news agency, citing Major General Apti Alaudinov. The commander also mentions the destruction of a unit of automatic grenade launchers, a mortar, and a gun. Alaudinov says that Ukrainian forces have experienced significant losses and that their advance has been halted. He adds that Ukrainian troops are trying to advance but are unsuccessful, and they have already started to inflict damage in several areas and liberate some settlements.
06:41 North Korea: Kim Jong Un Advocates for Increased Production of Kamikaze Drones As per a report by the state-run KCNA news agency, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has urged for the development and production of more kamikaze drones as an "important aspect of war preparations." Kamikaze drones are unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with explosives designed to target enemies. Russia has been frequently utilizing Iranian Shahed drones in Ukraine. North Korea and Russia have strengthened their military cooperation. The drone test, according to the official photos, involved white flying objects with X-shaped wings, flying towards and detonating on targets resembling South Korean K-2 tanks.
06:34 Ukraine: 1140 Russian Soldiers Reportedly Eliminated in a Day According to Ukrainian military reports, 1140 Russian soldiers have allegedly been killed or wounded in the last 24 hours. This brings the total number of Russian military personnel reportedly eliminated since the onset of the war to 608,820. However, these figures cannot be independently confirmed. Meanwhile, four Russian tanks, 17 armored vehicles, 47 artillery systems, one multiple rocket launcher, one air defense system, and 39 drones have reportedly been destroyed.
06:12 Ukraine Warns Minsk Against Making Regrettable Decisions Ukraine is urging Belarus to withdraw its substantial troop contingents and military equipment from the border. In a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belarus is implored to abstain from hostile actions and withdraw its troops from the border region. Ukraine warns Belarus not to make "tragic decisions" under pressure from Moscow. Belarus has yet to respond. According to Ukrainian reports, troops at the border include Belarusian special units and former Wagner soldiers, as well as tanks, artillery, air defense systems, and engineering equipment in the Gomel region on the northern border of Ukraine. The statement also emphasizes that Ukraine has "never initiated hostile actions against the Belarusian people and will not do so in the future."
05:46 Russian Governor Reports Damage from Drone Debris According to the governor of the Russian region of Saratov, several houses in the cities of Saratov and Engels have reportedly been damaged by debris from shot-down Ukrainian drones. All rescue services are currently on the scene. Engels is known for hosting a strategic bomber base in Russia.
03:52 Air Defense Reports Drone Attack on Kyiv Ukrainian military reports suggest that air defense systems are active in the Kyiv region to counter Russian drone attacks. "An enemy drone has been identified! Air defense systems in the region are active," the regional military administration reports on Telegram. No reports of damage or casualties have been reported as of yet.
00:19 Zelensky Condemns "Targeted and Calculated" Attack on Reuters Team In his evening address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the deadly rocket attack on Reuters journalists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk. A Reuters employee was killed, and two others were injured when a hotel was hit by a Russian Iskander rocket. The deceased was identified as British former soldier Ryan Evans, who had been working for Reuters since 2022, providing security advice to journalists in Ukraine, Israel, and at the Paris Olympics. Zelensky described the attack as "absolutely targeted, calculated." "My condolences to the family and friends." The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office has announced an investigation into the attack, which occurred on Saturday at 22:35 local time. Reuters could not confirm if the rocket was fired from Russia or if the hotel was intentionally targeted. Russia has yet to comment.
![Saturday saw the emergence of black smoke plumes, as depicted in this Sentinel-2 image. On a Saturday, Sentinel-2 captured images featuring dense smoke trails.](https://cdn.aussiedlerbote.de/content/images/2024/08/26/460135/jpeg/4-3/1200/75/this-image-from-sentinel-2-shows-dark-plumes-of-smoke-on-saturday.webp)
You can read all previous developments here.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has accused The Commission of providing intelligence to Ukraine, allegedly aiding in the targeting of Russian facilities. In a press conference, the Russian spokesperson claimed that intercepted communications revealed that The Commission was providing detailed information about Russian troop movements and positions to Ukrainian forces. This alleged cooperation was cited as a violation of international law and a direct intervention in the ongoing conflict.